This week's Torah portion, Noach

This week's Torah portion, Noach, begins with G-d's description of Noach [Noah]: "Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generation." Even though Noach lived in a generation of sinful individuals, he nonetheless merited to receive this praiseworthy description from G-d.
Noach was the only member of his generation who behaved properly; the conduct of everyone else living at that time was depraved. But Noach was not ashamed of acting differently. He served G-d in an open manner.

In the merit of his exemplary behaviour, Noach and his family survived the Great Flood while all others perished. Indeed, it was Noach and his children who re-populated the world and through whom humankind continues to exist. An entirely "new world" was established by Noach, as it were.

In truth, Noach's conduct contains a valuable teaching for every Jew. It sometimes happens that a Jew may want to do a particular mitzva (commandment), but the yetzer hara (evil inclination) whispers: "Take a good look around! Do you see anyone else doing this mitzva? You shouldn't do it, either."

Or, one might want to study Torah with diligence, but the yetzer hara intervenes. "Look around you," the yetzer hara stops him. "No one else takes his studies so seriously. Why must you be different from everyone else? Better you should close your books and do something else."

There are many instances in which the evil inclination tries to stop a Jew from doing a mitzva. Why, the entire world is filled with millions of people, and most of them are behaving in an entirely different fashion! How can you, a single and solitary individual, announce to the entire world (by doing that mitzva) that all of creation belongs to G-d? Why should you be different and recite a verse from Torah stating that "In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth"?

The arguments of the evil inclination must be answered by following Noach's example.

Just as Noach disregarded his surroundings, so too must every Jew pay no attention to the conduct of friends and colleagues when it is not in accordance with the teachings of the Torah. And just as Noach succeeded in his path, which was different from the rest of society's, so too, will every Jew succeed in conquering his yetzer hara, allowing him to learn Torah and observe mitzvot even in a hostile environment.

After the Flood, Noach merited to establish a new world. Similarly, every Jew has the power to save an entire world and bring redemption with "Moshiach Now!"

Based on an address of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Tzivos Hashem; Hitva'aduyot 5743