The Tower of Bavel on "Ground Zero" of the Flood

In explaining the word “Mabul” "flood", Rashi suggests three  etymologies:

1)      related to the word Bila- destroy

2)      related to word Bilbel- confusion

3)      related to word Hovil- to bring down, because the waters swept everything down to the lowest point possible. As proof of this third etymology, Rashi quotes the Talmud in Shabbat 113b  that Babylonia was also called Shinar, because Shinar is related to the word “Naar” which means to shake. Since Babylonia is in a valley, and the Talmud explains that all of those who died in the Flood ultimately landed in Babylonia.

All of the death and destruction from the Flood was swept to one spot called Shinar, identified by the Talmud as Bavel.

Later in the Sedra, in Chapter 11, we read about the Tower of Bavel. The Torah tells us that the location of this story is Shinar (11:2).

            It is no coincidence that the Tower of Bavel was built in Shinar. The commentaries explain that this tower building effort  was a response to the Flood. They thought that the tower could be a line of defense in case of a future flood. This helps to explain the decision to build the Tower on “Ground Zero”: the spot where all of the destruction from the flood was most apparent.

          

Though it may be true that “there are no atheists in a foxhole”, not everyone who has been in a foxhole remains devout after they are out and safe. In some cases,people who have experienced war have a difficult time remaining religious afterwards. They  wonder how a kind G-d could allow so much suffering in the world. After seeing such pain and hardship they may come to the conclusion that there is no one to rely upon, but themselves.

            

The fact that the Tower of Bavel was built on the collection site of all of the debris from the Flood gives us pause to consider the various responses that people have to tragedy and difficulty. Some are constructive and add comfort and meaning to the situation. Others, like those involved in the Tower of Bavel, unfortunately perpetuate the destruction, and add another layer of tragedy to the story.