Why is Shem ben Noach considered a craftsman but Noach himself isn't? Rashi even says that Shem was only called a cheresh for helping his father build the teiva?
Aharon Esral, Atlanta, USA
I found that your question is asked by one of the commentaries on the Midrash Rabbah 44:7 on Bereishit (which is cited here by Rashi) . The Eitz Yosef writes in the name of the Yefet Toar that even though Noach built the Teivah, nevertheless Shem was "Mischazek" with his father on the work of the Teivah. This means that Shem worked hard on the Teivah and was strong.
I would like to suggest that in terms of the physical building of the Teivah Shem in fact was more active than his father. For sure Hash-m commanded Noach to build the Teivah and the spiitual valor of undertaking this venture whilst the rest of the world was mocking him, was chiefly accredited to Noach, but the technical building of the Teivah was done by Shem more than Noach and this is why our Gemara calls Shem a craftsman rather than Noach.
Here is a different reason why the Gemara does not call Noach a craftsman: Noach has a greater "Yichus" than this - the Torah (Bereishis 6:9) describes him as a righteous and perfect man so it would be beneath Noach's pedigree for the Gemara merely to praise him as a Cheresh.
KOL TUV
Dovid Bloom