Noah, the first man with fingers

In the year 1042 (2718 BCE) from Creation, in the 55th year of Methuselah's rule, Seth, Adam's son, passed away. He was buried in Arbel. Methuselah's other son, Lemech was 168 years old at that point and there was a famine in the land.

Thirteen years later (2705 BCE), Lemech married Ashmaa and his father Methuselah told him that

Noah, the first man with fingers

 נח , האיש הראשון עם האצבעות  

In the year 1042 (2718 BCE) from Creation, in the 55th year of Methuselah's rule, Seth, Adam's son, passed away. He was buried in Arbel. Methuselah's other son, Lemech was 168 years old at that point and there was a famine in the land.

Thirteen years later (2705 BCE), Lemech married Ashmah and his father Methuselah told him that Lemech would have a son whose descendants would populate the world. He also told him - "And beware and do not call your son by his real the name so that he won't be killed through witchcraft. "

Methuselah was a great sage and knew that to perform witchcraft, the sorcerer needed to know the person's name. A year later, in the year 1056 (2704 BCE ) from the creation of the world, a son was born to Lemech and he was the first one born after the death of Adam.

Ever since Adam had sinned, creatures had refused to submit to humans and the land was cursed also. Adam inquired of G-d, how long the curse would endure. He was told that the curse would be lifted when a baby would be born circumcised. And indeed, when Lemech had a son, it was discovered that he was born circumcised and he was named Menachem as if to say: "This one will comfort us."

But the baby's real name was given by his grandfather Methuselah who called him Noach (Noah) so as to shield him from the sorcerers. Noah was the first man born with fingers. Up until then, people's hands were not split into fingers. After the birth of Noah, the famine ended and Adam's curse was lifted.

The earth brought forth produce and creatures stopped rebelling against people. Noah was the first to invent the plow, the sickle and the hoe to cultivate the land. Before Noah, people used their bare hands to work the land. Seeing all that made Noah had done, people became joyful and sang songs. Ever since then it's been the custom to sing more intensely when plowing than when engaging in any other activity.