"נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדרתיו את האלקים התהלך נח"
This week we read Parshat Noach. In Parshat Noach, Noach, a tzaddik, is asked to build an ark and take two of every animal into the ark because a flood is coming. Once the flood comes, it destroys everything except for Noach and his ark. But, how can it be that Noach was a “tzaddik”? He definitely did not always follow Hashem’s ways. Why is he recognized as such a righteous man and role model for us?
None of us are perfect with following the Torah and performing mitzvot. No person is. We all try to do our best but we all do aveiros and wrongdoings throughout our lives. It is basically impossible to be perfect in doing mitzvot. In this parshah, we are taught that the reason Noach is considered such a righteous man. Noach made a great effort to be a good man, even in an environment where everyone is doing bad things. He always tried his best to do the most mitzvot he could do. Therefore, we are taught about all the good Noach does in his lifetime. From this idea that he did his best to be a good man and the fact that he was a “tzaddik” in Hashem’s eyes, we can infer that we all have an opportunity to be the “tzaddik” in our communities and our generation. We should all strive to be the best version of ourselves through doing the most Torah and mitzvot we can. The story of Noach serves to teach us that the goal is not to be a perfect tzaddik but to be the best we can be.
Shabbat Shalom!
By: Yona Groisman (9th Grade)