The prophet Yeshayahu in Ch. 54 refers to the Biblical Flood as "MEI NOACH" (Noach's Water). Why is Noach blamed for the Flood? The Torah describes him as "ISH TZADIK TAMIM" (a perfectly righteous man).

The Zohar explains that Noach's name is connected to the Flood because he was in a certain indirect way responsible for it. Noach did not pray to G-d to spare the people, nor did he take any initiative to bring the people to Teshuva. Thus, the Lubliner Rav states that after the Flood, the Torah in Bereshit 7 states, " VAYISHAER ACH NOACH" (only Noach remained). The Torah stripped him of all his honorary titles. He is no longer "ISH TZADIK TAMIM", because unlike Abraham, who prayed for Sodom, Noach neglected to pray for the people.

The Midrash Devarim Rabba notes that G-d gave Noach the same warning of impending disaster as He gave Moshe after the Sin of the Golden Calf. Noach did not act, sure in the knowledge that he and his family would survive the Flood, even though everybody else would perish.

Moshe, on the other hand, rejected a similar offer by G-d of personal survival when G-d threatened to destroy the Jewish People for the Sin of the Golden Calf. Moshe prayed fervently for the Jewish People's salvation, and G-d consented to his plea. Noach, however, is held accountable for not praying that G-d should spare the world from destruction. Therefore, Noach's name is linked with the Floodwaters.

The lesson for us is that we should be concerned, pray for and be involved with our fellow human beings.