Parshas Noach – What Does Hashem Want from Me Now?

This week’s Parsha tells us about Noach and his incredible dedication, or mesiras nefesh, in caring for all the animals on the Teivah. Noach worked tirelessly around the clock, without sleep or time for himself, to tend to the needs of each creature. Each animal had a unique diet and required individualized care, making it a task as daunting as working alone at the Bronx Zoo with no staff to help.

Noach’s dedication wasn’t only about taking care of the animals—it was about understanding Hashem’s will and putting all his kishkes, his inner resolve, into fulfilling it.

This story offers us a powerful lesson: at every moment in life, we must strive to understand what Hashem wants from us and pursue it with passion, even when the task may seem menial or insignificant.

A beautiful story I once heard captures this lesson perfectly:

There is a Rav I know who held a distinguished position as a world-class mekareiv in an out-of-town community. He was highly talented, successful in his role, and only growing more effective with time. However, his local mesivta wasn’t an ideal fit for one of his teenage sons, and so, after careful thought, he and his family made the difficult and unpopular decision to move to another city, allowing their son to attend a school better suited to him without needing to dorm. They left his position, their home, their friends, and their community to fulfill what they believed to be their primary commitment—to raise their children.

For them, the decision was clear: “This is what Hashem wants from us now.”

This perspective transforms the “menial” or “unpopular” parts of life—sitting in traffic, changing diapers—into uplifting and meaningful experiences. With this mindset, even seemingly lowly tasks gain depth and value. May we all be zoche to develop this approach and find passion in every part of life, even the less glamorous moments. With Hashem’s help, when we succeed in the simpler challenges, we prepare ourselves for the harder ones.

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

Rabbi Anton