LESSON IN LIFE

   Last week we read Parshat B'reisheet, when Hashem created man and woman and set them forth on their journey of life in a most magnificent way.   

   Then, in a curiously and conflicting manner we are introduced this Shabbat to Noach and his unique personality. With baited breath we wondered, "Who was this person designated by G-D to save humanity."

   We learn from the Parsha how Noach is described,  את האלוקים התהלך נח, "Noach walked with G-D", and Noach was a righteous man, a צדיק. 

   From the Torah's description of Noach, I suggest that he was a non conformist. He remained loyal to Hashem at all times.  In face of all the corruption and evil that existed at that time, Noach remained his own person. He refused to conform to his societies norms and with great effort stood his grounds and remained the righteous person he was. 

   It is truly amazing and praiseworthy that a person can remain loyal to  Hashem's ways and be a non conformist in a world of perversity. It is for these reasons that G-D chose Noach to rebuild a new world for humanity, resulting in the signing of a bris, a covenant, with Hashem, to assure that the people of the world will live on with integrity and with human dignity. 

   Yes, Noach walked with G-D, and maintained his true "self" and never walked alone again. He always walked with G-D. 

   This is our lesson in life. These are times that we must maintain our identity as loyal and obedient Jews to forge a greater alliance with mankind, encouraging others that we need not be like those whose way of life is destructive and often perverse. 

  Noach had the courage and ability to separate himself from those forces that wished to drag him along the road of evil and inhumanity. 

   We must take that lesson to heart and remain steadfast in our Torah oriented way and not permit anyone to encourage us otherwise. 

  Noach was the savior of the world in his time and we must do our share to help humanity see the light of truth, in a world that so often suffers from darkness and falsehood. 

      Noach, the non conformist, builds an ark that saves the world, and provides for the future of the next generation and all generations to come.  The question that we must answer, "Are we doing the same for our families and for Judaism?"

     Noach's charge is our mission.  

שבת שלום ומבורך