Noach 9:23 · unit 1

TT #60 · Parashas Noach · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 9:23

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּקַּח֩ שֵׁ֨ם וָיֶ֜פֶת אֶת־הַשִּׂמְלָ֗ה וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ עַל־שְׁכֶ֣ם שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית וַיְכַסּ֕וּ אֵ֖ת עֶרְוַ֣ת אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וּפְנֵיהֶם֙ אֲחֹ֣רַנִּ֔ית וְעֶרְוַ֥ת אֲבִיהֶ֖ם לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃

Shem and Yefet took the garment, placed it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered their father’s nakedness; their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Chabad.org — 9:23

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Rav Yehudah (Berachot / related) — ervah of a non-Jew is still ervah for Shema.

Sefaria — Berakhot 25b area

E-Daf image (size=3)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְעֶרְוַת אֲבִיהֶם לֹא רָאוּ — אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים עָרוֹם אָסוּר לִקְרוֹת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע כְּנֶגְדּוֹ… קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּאַנְהוּ נַמִּי אִקְּרוּ עֶרְוָה, דִּכְתִיב וְעֶרְוַת אֲבִיהֶם לֹא רָאוּ.

English: “They did not see their father’s nakedness” — Rav Yehudah said: It is forbidden to recite Shema opposite a naked non-Jew… this teaches that they too are called “ervah,” as it is written “they did not see their father’s nakedness.”

Type of Learning

Custom (ervah status applies even to non-Jews for purposes of Shema).

What Is Learned

The nakedness of a non-Jew is still classified as ervah; one may not recite Shema facing it.