In the youth project “Menorah Community” of the Dnipro Jewish Community, which is actively developing thanks to the efforts of the Zislina family, another men’s Torah class was held, dedicated to the weekly portion of Noach and the question of how a person can remain faithful to their convictions when those around them behave entirely differently. The class was led by the deputy secretary of the Dnipro rabbinical court, Reb Avraham Yosef Yitzchak Karshenbaum.
The theme of the meeting was the question “Everyone does it. Do you?”, which brings the ancient story of Noach directly to every person. The weekly portion tells of the Flood, the ark, and the possibility of starting anew. But of particular significance is that Noach managed to remain faithful to the Almighty among people for whom violence and the violation of moral laws had become the accepted norm.
Participants in the class addressed one of the most important moral challenges a person faces in all times. If the majority acts in a certain way, does that mean such behavior is correct? And does a person have enough inner courage not to submit to generally accepted rules of behavior when they contradict the Almighty’s commandments? The story of Noach reminds us that loyalty to the principles of the Torah is determined not by the number of people who share them, but by the readiness to follow the Almighty’s directives even against the opinion of the majority.
“The story of Noach teaches us that a person must be able to independently distinguish right from wrong and not justify their actions by saying that everyone does it,” noted the head of the “Menorah Community” project, Levi Zislin. “It is precisely such classes that help young people find moral compasses in the Torah and the teachings of Chassidus, strengthen their Jewish identity, and recognize personal responsibility for their own choices. We are grateful for the opportunity to carry out this important work within the unified and cohesive Dnipro Jewish Community under the leadership of the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
