Parshas Noach Shabbos Times Erev Shabbos Shabbos Day Plag HaMincha 6:11pm Latest time for Shema 9:56am Candle Lighting 7:13pm Shabbos Ends 8:13pm Shkiya 7:30pm Shabbos Afternoon Avos Ubonim Learn at home over Shabbos for 30 mins and SMS the Rabbi by Sunday 1pm to enter the raffle Winners will be announced on the WhatsApp groups Short Vort on the Parsha Many meforshim wonder why people had been forbidden to eat meat before the great flood but were permitted to do so afterwards. The Oznayim LaTorah suggests that it was for educational purposes. The generation of the flood lacked a true appreciation of the greatness of humanity. They did not understand that man is the pinnacle of creation and that a person is as far removed from the animal world as an animal is from a rock. Instead, they considered themselves the highest rung in the animal world, intelligent animals of the highest order. It was therefore not surprising that they behaved like animals and committed the sins of adultery and robbery. To prevent this from happening again, it was now permitted for people to eat the flesh of animals. This showed them that they were at the centre of creation and that animals had been created only to serve their needs. If they would learn to appreciate and respect themselves for what they were, they would be far less likely to slip once again into behaviour better suited for beasts.