"But Rabbi, I have many questions..."
"I hate to say it but from time to time I get doubts..."
"Is it OK if some days I have a hard time believing..."
There is an old Yiddish proverb, Fun a kasha shtarbt men nit--"Nobody ever died of a question." It's not the end of the world if you didn't get an answer to all your questions. We can live with unanswered questions. The main thing is not to allow ourselves to become paralyzed by our doubts. We can still do what has to be done, despite our doubts.
That's why Noah always appealed to me. When you read the Torah and its commentaries, he is no “Superhero.” He has his flaws.
Rashi describes Noah as a man of "small faith" who had doubts whether the flood would actually happen. In fact, according to the great commentator's understanding, he didn't enter the Ark until the rains actually started and the floodwaters pushed him in. And certainly, he fell short in terms of the ability to influence others in his generations…That explains why many people look down on Noah, especially when they compare him to other Biblical heroes like Abraham or Moses.
And yet...this is precisely what makes Noah my kind of hero. He's real. He's human.
Look what this simple fellow achieved! In a society dripping with greed and temptation, Noach held strongly to his morals, walked with G-d, and swam against the tide, saving the planet from destruction. Civilization survived not because of a towering, titanic figure; but because of a simple man who had the courage to live morally when everyone around him behaved despicably. He may have had his doubts...but he got the job done!
So Noah, the reluctant hero, reminds us that you don't have to be fearless to get involved. You don't have to be a tzaddik to do a mitzvah. You don't have to be holy to keep kosher, and you don't have to be "perfect in your faith" to come out to a Torah class.