<b>And God spoke to Noah, saying: “Go forth from the ark” (Gen. 8:15).</b> May our master instruct us whether one is permitted to place saliva upon an ailing eye on the Sabbath. R. Hiyya the son of Abba stated in the name of R. Levi: It is forbidden to place saliva on an ailing eye on the Sabbath, for that would be equivalent to healing on the Sabbath.<sup class="footnote-marker">14</sup><i class="footnote">Cf. Shabbat 10b, Buber Tanhuma, Noah 13.</i> Come and see that there is no ailment in all the world for which there is no cure. What is the cure for an act resulting from the evil inclination? Repentance.
R. Judah the son of R. Shalum explained in the name of R. Eleazar that three things abrogate a harsh decree: repentance, prayer, and charity. R. Yosé added: Changing one’s name and the performance of good deeds. The Holy One, blessed be He, had hoped that the generation of the flood would repent, but when they failed to do so, He exterminated all living beings. Only Noah survived in the ark. When the waters ceased to flow, and the time arrived for Noah to leave the ark, he declared: I entered at the bidding of the Holy One, blessed be He, when He told me, “Come, you and your household, into the ark,” and I shall not depart except at His bidding. Thereupon God revealed Himself unto Noah, as it is said: <i>And God spoke to Noah, saying</i>, “<i>Go forth from the ark</i>.”