Noach

Parsha in a Nutshell: After establishing Noach as a righteous man, HaShem restates in more detail his displeasure with humanity, informs Noach and gives him instructions regarding the construction of an ark and procedures for his family and animals, the flood, the subsiding of the flood, HaShem's covenant with Noach, tower of Babel and the the descendants of Noach.

Introduction

• Pasuk 6/9: The sentence reads, "These are the offspring of Noach, Noach was a righteous man..." Why wasn't this sentence written as..."These are the offspring of Noach, a righteous man, perfect in his generations, who walked with HaShem." Why the multiple use of the name Noach? Rashi only comments on the non sequitur in an explanation of his righteousness. For another take on the first Rashi in this parsha see DovBear's post here.
  

• 6/7-13: I know this sounds foolish, but what about the fish? G-d is clearly disappointed in the whole lot of his creation and seeks to wipe it all out and start over. But when push comes to shove, the method only removes animals, birds and beasts. Why was it not at least commented on by Rashi? Does their exclusion or his choice of punishment (flood) not teach us something?
  

Noach's Instructions

• Pasuk 6/18: Why is this covenant different from the one detailed later in the parsha? Rashi explains that this covenant was to promise that the food will last. Wouldn't the more simple meaning be that HaShem's initial commitment to a covenant was made prior to the flood, and that later in the parsha (9/8-17) we come to understand the breadth and seal (a rainbow) of that covenant?

• Pasuk 7/2: Rashi explains that Noach learned the Torah and henceforth knew which animals were "pure". I would appreciate an alternative explanation.
  

Subsiding of the Flood

• 8/1: "G-d remembered Noach"...In Rashi's commentary on this portion of the sentence, Rashi notes that HaShem also remembered the animals on board the ark when choosing to have the waters subside. Specifically, he says that they had not corrupted their ways, either prior to or while on the ark. But that runs contrary to the Torah and Rashi's commentary to 6/7 and 6/11-12 which clearly layout that all flesh and animals were corrupted. How do we resolve this?

Debasing of Noach

• 9/20-24: Noach debased himself by planting a vineyard prior to his other duties. He then was found naked in his tent by his son Ham. According to Rashi, Ham's son Canaan is cursed for the subsequent the sin of Ham which is presumed to be either having relations with Noach or otherwise emasculating him. I think the commentary misses the point of this episode. Soon after the flood, Noach knowingly makes a poor choice. What Ham "saw" was the result...the vineyard and Noach's drunkenness. He then reported this to his brothers, which is what Noach came to understand. In other words, he understood that he was caught. This entire episode immediately follows the newly formed covenant to not to again wipe clean the face of the earth. What we see in the curse of Canaan is an alternative punishment and HaShem staying true to his word. If I'm correct, then the better question would be why is Canaan the recipient of the punishment rather than Noach, Ham, his brothers or the current generation? This idea also more closely follows the pattern of reward and punishment conveyed in the story of Cain and Abel.

Tower of Babel

• 10/31-11/8: According to verse 10/31, there were many languages, but that at the root of all of these was the Holy Language per Rashi's commentary to 11/1. For the balance of this section, language then becomes a synonym for harmony according to Rashi. The underlying theme of the Tower of Babel is that HaShem is displeased with the fact that people do not recognize the gift of harmony he has provided and views the construction of the Tower of Babel both as a sign of ungratefulness and an affront to his domain. His resolution is to create disharmony and dispersion. But that would seem to run counter to His intent at the beginning of parsha and is not commented on by Rashi. Disharmony doesn't promote goodness.

• For a different take on the Tower of Babel see this posting by DovBear here and here
  

Miscellaneous

• For a few other notes on DovBear's blog regarding Noach look here.

• For a long list of other lectures and posting on the parsha, see Hirhurim by Rabbi Gil Student here.