Inspired by a midrash on Noah’s Ark, this tale describes Noah’s concern for the chameleon and his persistence in caring for it. The story encourages family conversations about the importance of every creature in nature, and introduces young children to the story of Noah and the Flood. This book was created in a collaboration between Sifriyat Pijama and Kinneret-Zmora Bitan-Dvir publisher.
Who helps whom—does Noah help the chameleon, or the chameleon, Noah? This story, inspired by tales from rabbinic Midrash, is about tending to and caring for a small creature, and depicts the reciprocal relationships among the various creatures in the ark, large and small.
Read Moreמי עוזר למי - נח לזיקית, או הזיקית לנח? הסיפור "איך הצילה הזיקית את נח" לא רק מתאר את מסירותו של נח לכל חיה, אלא גם ממחיש כיצד יכולה חיה קטנה, כמו הזיקית, להועיל לאדם, ...
Read MoreHow the Chameleon Saved Noah / By Yael Molchidesky
Illustrations: Orit Bergman
Dear Parents,
Who helps whom—does Noah help the chameleon, or the chameleon, Noah? This story, inspired by tales from rabbinic Midrash, is about tending to and caring for a small creature, and depicts the reciprocal relationships among the various creatures in the ark, large and small.
Noah’s Ark
Anyone who has ever had a pet knows the burden of responsibility entailed in caring for an animal. The biblical story of Noah and his family, and the animals that he took with him in the ark, has inspired many generations of tales and stories describing life in the ark and detailing how Noah and his family cared for the varied creatures on board. In vignettes depicting life on board the ark, our rabbis described the devoted care which Noah and his family gave to every single creature, each according to its needs, and the tremendous effort they made to provide each species with the right food.
The story “How the Chameleon Saved Noah” doesn’t merely show us Noah’s devotion to each creature—it also illustrates how a small creature like the chameleon can make itself useful to us humans—teaching us that every creature, no matter how small, is critical to the existence and survival of our planet.
The Story of Noah and the Chameleon appears in Gemara, Tractate Sanhedrin 108:42
“It is written, ‘After their kinds they went forth from the ark.’ Now, how were you situated?” — He replied. 'We had much trouble in the ark. The animals which are usually fed by day we fed by day; and those normally fed by night, we fed by night. But my father [Noah] did not know what food the chameleon ate. One day he was sitting and cutting up a pomegranate, when a worm fell out of it, which it [the chameleon] consumed. From then onward, he mashed up bran for it, and when it became wormy, the chameleon devoured it.’
גננת יקרה,
מי עוזר למי - נח לזיקית, או הזיקית לנח? הסיפור, שנכתב בהשראת מדרש חז"ל, עוסק בדאגה ליצור קטן ובטיפול בו, ומתאר לנו את קשרי הגומלין בין היצורים השונים בטבע, גדולים כקטנים.
תיבת נח
כל מי שניסה לגדל חיית מחמד אי-פעם, מכיר את כובד האחריות הכרוכה בדאגה לחייו של בעל החיים. הסיפור המקראי על נח ומשפחתו ועל החיות שהכניס עמו לתיבה, שימשו השראה לאורך הדורות לסיפורים ולאגדות שתיארו את החיים בתיבה וכיצד טיפלו נח ומשפחתו בחיות המגוונות ששהו בה. במדרשים קצרים מהווי התיבה תיארו בפנינו חז"ל את הטיפול המסור שהעניקו נח ובני משפחתו לכל חיה וחיה על פי צרכיה, ואת המאמץ הרב שהשקיעו כדי לספק לכל חיה את המזון המתאים לה.
הסיפור "איך הצילה הזיקית את נח" לא רק מתאר את מסירותו של נח לכל חיה, אלא גם ממחיש כיצד יכולה חיה קטנה, כמו הזיקית, להועיל לאדם, ומלמד אותנו שכל יצור, קטן כגדול, חיוני לקיום העולם ולהמשכיותו.
How the Chameleon Saved Noah / By Yael Molchidesky
Illustrations: Orit Bergman
Dear Parents,
Who helps whom—does Noah help the chameleon, or the chameleon, Noah? This story, inspired by tales from rabbinic Midrash, is about tending to and caring for a small creature, and depicts the reciprocal relationships among the various creatures in the ark, large and small.
Noah’s Ark
Anyone who has ever had a pet knows the burden of responsibility entailed in caring for an animal. The biblical story of Noah and his family, and the animals that he took with him in the ark, has inspired many generations of tales and stories describing life in the ark and detailing how Noah and his family cared for the varied creatures on board. In vignettes depicting life on board the ark, our rabbis described the devoted care which Noah and his family gave to every single creature, each according to its needs, and the tremendous effort they made to provide each species with the right food.
The story “How the Chameleon Saved Noah” doesn’t merely show us Noah’s devotion to each creature—it also illustrates how a small creature like the chameleon can make itself useful to us humans—teaching us that every creature, no matter how small, is critical to the existence and survival of our planet.
Family Activities
Have fun reading and talking about this story!
The Story of Noah and the Chameleon appears in Gemara, Tractate Sanhedrin 108:42
“It is written, ‘After their kinds they went forth from the ark.’ Now, how were you situated?” — He replied. 'We had much trouble in the ark. The animals which are usually fed by day we fed by day; and those normally fed by night, we fed by night. But my father [Noah] did not know what food the chameleon ate. One day he was sitting and cutting up a pomegranate, when a worm fell out of it, which it [the chameleon] consumed. From then onward, he mashed up bran for it, and when it became wormy, the chameleon devoured it.’
