In Parshat Noach, we learn that Noach was 600 years old when he entered the Teva (ark) and lived for 350 years after the flood, reaching a final age of 950. Yet, if we calculate his life, there appears to be a “missing” year. Where did that year go? The flood, we know, lasted an entire year but it’s not counted in Noach’s lifespan 

The Gemara (Brachot 8a) tells us that the elders of Bavel gained long life because they rose early and stayed late when going to shul.  Later, at the bottom of that same page, it says that someone who does shnayim mikra ve-echad targum – reads the weekly parsha twice and once the commentary, are blessed with extended life.  In other words, the time devoted to serving Hashem not only isn’t lost—it is gifted back with blessing.

This idea isn’t limited to time alone. The Gemara (Beitzah 16a) tells us that money spent on Shabbat, Yom Tov, and Torah education isn’t deducted from our income but is “refunded” from Shamayim (Heaven). Hashem ensures that when we spend on causes for Hashem, we are repaid in unexpected ways.

Similarly, the flood year didn’t count as “lost” time for Noach; it was a year dedicated to intense service of Hashem. The Gemara in Sanhedrin adds that Noach spent that entire year tirelessly tending to the animals, doing Hashem’s will without sleep. This speaks to a powerful Torah truth: when we fully dedicate ourselves to serving Hashem, He ensures we never lose out. 

Like me allowing my son some extra time on a favorite activity, even past his bedtime after completing a helpful task, Hashem “gives back” to us, often in abundance.

This counterintuitive dynamic appears throughout the Torah. Trusting that Hashem controls outcomes—whether in time, money, or life events—empowers us to prioritize mitzvot with confidence that our efforts will be repaid. Noach’s “missing year” was not missing at all; it was a year counted differently, blessed by its dedication to Hashem.

May we, too, find the strength to dedicate ourselves to Hashem, knowing that any time or resources invested are never lost but returned with Bracha.

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