Noah sends out the dove the first time to see if the waters of the flood have abated. The Torah relates:
"But the dove did not find a resting place for the sole of her foot; and she returned to him (Noah) to the Ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth; and he put forth his hand and took her and brought her to him into the ark" (Genesis 8:9).
Why does the Torah need to tell us that Noah reached out to the dove and brought her back into the ark?
Rabbi Naftoli Tzvi Yehuda Berlin points out that the dove did not fly into the ark. Since she did not return with anything in her mouth (the second time she brought back the olive branch), she thought that her master, Noah, would not let her back into the ark. Noah, however, had compassion and took her into his hands to warm her while she rested from the journey.
Rabbi Berlin teaches that we should learn from Noah's actions that if someone returns from an errand or a mission unsuccessful due to circumstances beyond his control, we should treat him with kindness and appreciation as if he were successful.
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