Great is peace!
In the parsha of the week, Parshas Noach, we read about the generation of the Mabbul (the Flood) who were entirely wiped out and erased from the world—except for Noach and his family. On the other hand, the parsha also brings the story of Dor HaHaflaga (the Generation of the Dispersion), who were scattered and dispersed in all directions. Why was the generation of the Mabbul wiped out from the world, whereas Dor HaHaflaga were only punished by being scattered, but not wiped out—even though they seemingly committed kefirah (heresy) against Hashem, which is the ultimate, most severe sin?
Rashi explains that this is because among the people of Dor HaHaflaga there was peace between one another. By contrast, the generation of the Mabbul sinned in gezel (robbery) and there was strife among them. That is why they were punished so severely!
"We learn from here how hated machlokes (discord) is, and how great peace is."
Our teacher, HaGaon Rav Avraham Yeshaya Kanievsky shlit"a, asked his father, Maran Sar HaTorah Rav Chaim Kanievsky zeitzeitz"l: But when the people of Dor HaHaflaga were punished and Hashem confused their language, they acted with terrible cruelty! When one asked for a brick and the other brought him mortar because he couldn't understand him, he would pounce on him and smash his skull! Can this be called acting in peace with one another? The moment something didn't go their way, he immediately smashed his brain in! What kind of peace is that?
Maran Sar HaTorah, the Gaon Rav Chaim zktz"l, answered: That is precisely what comes to teach us the tremendous power and importance of shalom! Indeed—even if the peace is driven purely by self-interest and only lasts as long as things are going well for us... and when it stops being convenient, it vanishes—even so, shalom is so great that even that kind of peace saves from punishment!
