Jewish tradition grapples with this very human experience, and it does so in a fascinating way, using the story of Noah.

We find this exploration in Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, also known as Kohelet. The verse in question is from Ecclesiastes 9:15: "He found in it a poor, wise man, and he saved the city in his wisdom; but no one remembered that poor man." Who is this "poor, wise man"? Kohelet Rabbah suggests it's none other than Noah.

The text connects this verse to Noah based on Genesis 7:1, where God says, "For I have seen you righteous before Me in this generation.” Noah, in his wisdom, warned his generation of the coming flood, urging them to repent. Kohelet Rabbah imagines Noah pleading with them, saying, "Alas, empty ones, the flood is coming tomorrow; repent!"

But how did they respond? Not with gratitude, that’s for sure. They mocked him. The text tells us that they retorted, "If calamity will begin, it will begin from the house of that man!" They saw Noah and his family as the source of the impending disaster, not as saviors.

And the story gets even more poignant. Methuselah, Noah's righteous grandfather, died just seven days before the flood began. Imagine the grief Noah must have felt, mourning his grandfather while simultaneously trying to warn a disbelieving world. Even after Methuselah's death, the people continued their scorn, saying, “Is it not from the house of that man that the calamity began?” Blaming Noah's lineage for their troubles!

So, what about that final part of the verse: "but no one remembered that poor man"? Did Noah's efforts go completely unacknowledged? According to Kohelet Rabbah, not quite. The Holy One, blessed be He, says, "You did not remember him; I remember him." This is connected to Genesis 8:1, which states, "The Lord remembered Noah..."

This is such a powerful idea, isn’t it? Even when human beings fail to appreciate our efforts, when we feel forgotten and overlooked, there's a divine acknowledgment. God remembers Noah's righteousness, his persistence, and his ultimately successful efforts to save life on Earth.

It makes you wonder: how often do we discount the efforts of others, especially those who might seem "poor" or insignificant in our eyes? How often do we fail to see the wisdom in their warnings? And, perhaps more importantly, how can we strive to be more like the Holy One, blessed be He, and remember those who are easily forgotten? Maybe that's the real message of Noah's story – not just surviving the flood, but remembering those who tried to save us from it.