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    You are at:Home»Articles»Musings»Make New Friends
    Musings

    Make New Friends

    Abby SookrajBy Abby SookrajMay 12, 2015Updated:July 18, 202331 Comments11 Mins Read
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    This is part of an ongoing series of articles that looks at the unique struggles we face as Noahides.

    As you have likely discovered by now, there is NOT a vibrant community of like-minded, Torah-observant Noahides living in your neighborhood. In fact, if there are any other Noahides living in your area, you are very fortunate.

    Don’t lose all hope, though – this situation will improve. One day, the world will be filled with Noahide communities, and following the Torah will become the norm, rather than an exception. As the prophet says in Isaiah 11:9, “The earth will be full of the knowledge of Hashem, as the waters cover the sea.” May it happen speedily in our day!

    But until then, we Noahides are few and far between, and it’s easy to feel alone. One of the things we struggle to figure out is how should we as Noahides relate to and interact with the people in our lives, the people we love.

    The Sages tell us that having friends is an indispensable part of the human experience. As the Mishnaic Sage Yehoshua ben Perachia teaches us in Pirkei Avoth 1:6, “Make a rabbi for yourself; Purchase a friend for yourself.” From this we learn that while a relationship with a teacher is vitally important, the role of the student is for the most part passive. Whereas developing friendships requires a much greater investment of time, effort, and intimacy. We “purchase” our friends by being willing to share ourselves, spending time with each other, and being there to help each other through difficult times. And, in the end, our friends influence us just as profoundly as our teachers.

    The Dangers of Separation

    Upon choosing to follow the path of Torah, many of us experienced the harsh rejection of friends and family who didn’t come along the same path as us. Whether you came from a tight-knit church community who then rejected you for no longer accepting their man-god, or from a secular background where your friends thought you’d joined a cult, their reaction and treatment of you likely came as a heart-wrenching shock. This is much like the experience of Moshe’s father-in-law, Yithro, the former High-Priest of Midian, who was exiled to the wilderness after choosing to follow the Noahide path.

    Unfortunately, many Noahides then go further, and choose to voluntarily isolate themselves from the non-Jewish world in which they live. Seeking to follow the example of the Jewish people, they begin emulating Jewish practices, customs, and styles of dress – all of which were specifically designed to separate the Jewish people from the nations, as Hashem said to Israel in Leviticus 20:26, “I have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.”

    While the desire to emulate the righteous is generally a good thing, it’s important to remember that, unlike the Jewish people, we Noahides are not meant to be separated from our own peoples. The Jewish people must separate from the nations in order to fulfill their mission of safeguarding the Torah, but we Noahides cannot fulfill our own unique mission if we separate from our own people. Our Noahide mission is to take the light of Torah and implement it within our own societies, not separating from our nations and our peoples, but elevating them with it. And, this can only be accomplished from within!

    If you wish to separate from your own people, of course, you can always convert and become part of the Jewish people. Or, you can instead choose, as many of us already have, to follow the example of Yithro, the righteous Noahide, and say, “I will not go with you [Israel], but will depart to my own land, and my own people.” [1]Numbers 10:29 – “Chovav, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moshe’s father-in-law” is identified by many commentators (such as Ibn Ezra) as none other than Yithro. Rather than converting and … Continue reading

    This means that you can and should be part of the society all around you. Unlike a person who converts to Judaism, we Noahides aren’t supposed to separate from our existing friends and family. They are our people! Don’t be afraid to go out and make friends, and be a part of your own people!

    Beware Bad Influences

    Of course, saying that we are free to be a part of the nations in which we live is all fine and good, but putting that into practice is not always simple. Having clawed our way out of the idolatry of our ancestors, we are all intimately familiar with the evils and dangers that lurk within our own societies.

    And, as the Rambam points out:

    It is natural for a man’s character and actions to be influenced by his friends and associates and for him to follow the local norms of behavior. Therefore, he should associate with the righteous and be constantly in the company of the wise, so as to learn from their deeds. Conversely, he should keep away from the wicked who walk in darkness, so as not to learn from them.
    Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth De’oth 6:1

    While most of us wouldn’t call our non-Noahide friends and family “wicked”, we often wouldn’t call them “righteous” either, however there are many we may consider “wise”. So, it’s vitally important that we recognize the influence that many of them have on our behavior and character traits – and even more so on the behavior of our children. And of course, if you have existing friends and family who accepted your decision to follow this path, even though they may not understand it – you should treasure them!

    Just remember that we human beings are social creatures, and no matter how strong-willed we may think we are, we naturally emulate the behavior and actions of those we spend time with.

    Thus, we must strive to connect with other righteous people who live near us – whether Jews or Noahides – so that we can strengthen each other and learn from each other’s good behavior. And, when making friends with the non-righteous, make sure to look for people who have qualities you admire and would like to incorporate in your own character development so you can learn from their good qualities, and avoid people whose jobs or behaviors regularly involve violence, harsh words, and endangering others lest you become comfortable sitting in the “seat of the scorners”.

    As it says in Proverbs 12:26, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

    Be a Good Influence

    At the same time, we must be careful not to be so afraid of being influenced by the wicked that we completely and totally separate from those around us. After all, in order to implement Torah in our dealings with our fellow non-Jews, we must actually go out and interact with our fellow non-Jews!

    As you learn more Torah, you’ll find that it transforms every aspect of how you relate to your fellow human beings. From simple interactions with your friends, neighbors, families, and loved ones, to how you handle the most complex business transactions. All of these interactions have enormous ripple-effects in the world around us.

    A particularly great way to make new friends is by getting involved in local groups and organizations who are doing good things in your community. Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do, not only because of the good things you will do for others, but also for the friendships you will forge with other like-minded people who are actively working to make your community a better place – whether it be by fighting homelessness, poverty, and hunger, helping abused men, women and children, or any other good cause.

    If your local community doesn’t have many such opportunities, consider moving to an area where there are more opportunities [2]I hear Minneapolis is a nice place to live and even has some swell Noahides!. Or better yet, create those opportunities for yourself and others in your community!

    It’s a Small World

    In the early 1900’s, a French Noahide named Aime Palliere wrote an autobiography entitled “The Unknown Sanctuary”. It’s a fascinating look at his journey from training to be a Catholic priest to becoming a Noahide. But, one thing that becomes very clear in his story is the loneliness and isolation of being a Noahide at that time.

    Compared to his situation, it’s almost like we’re living in the Messianic era! Today, there are Noahides living all over the globe, in every corner of the world – from the Philippines, to India, to the Netherlands, to rural Texas, and everywhere in between.

    Sure we are far and few between, but with modern communications technology, speaking with a fellow Noahide is as simple as making a Skype call. We can connect with others through forums on Facebook, through websites like this one, through online Torah classes and learning opportunities, or through any of literally hundreds of other similar methods online. Unlike Aime Palliere’s era, in this day and age, there’s literally no reason for us not to be making friendships with other Noahides.

    And, what’s even better is that our world is becoming smaller and smaller every day. In a matter of hours, we can physically travel to almost anywhere on the planet! And, while it’s great to make these virtual connections, there’s nothing quite like meeting another Noahide face-to-face.

    This is someone who understands where you’ve come from. They understand the questions and confused looks you get from friends and family. They’ve also struggled with idea of whether or not to convert. Even the Noahides you disagree with online usually turn out to be some of the coolest people you’ll meet.

    Whenever we travel, we always make a point to reach out to local Noahides and get together over coffee, lunch, or dinner. The stories we’ve shared, the fellowship and support we’ve received, and the friendships we’ve made have been the real highlight of all our travels. We highly recommend making these connections when you travel, as well as connecting with other Noahides traveling through your neck of the woods [3]Of course, be sensible about all this, and use caution – there are plenty of weirdos out there on the internet!.

    Finally, make sure to keep an eye out for the various Noahide Conferences which are a great place to meet other Noahides. Through a Noahide Nations conference in Texas, we ended up meeting a whole group of Noahides who lived a mere 3 hours away from us in Minnesota! Having these friends in our lives all these years has been a great blessing to my husband and I, and we all make a point of getting together at least a couple times a year.

    We live in an amazing age. And, we’ve been blessed by Hashem with amazing technology. Use it to reach out to other Noahides all around the world and forge friendships – your soul will thank you for it!

    As it says in Psalms 133, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together as one.”

    Conclusion

    The Sages teach us that friendship is a key part of the human experience. The people we choose as our friends are an important part of our walk with Hashem.

    However, for us Noahides it’s a tricky balancing act. On one hand, we must strive to forge friendships with the few other righteous individuals we know. On the other hand, we must remain involved in our own society, nurturing relationships with our “non-Noahide” spouses, children, parents, siblings, friends and colleagues. All while making sure we are not unduly influenced by others’ vice and objectionable traits.

    Finding the proper balance between remaining involved and guarding against negative influences will be different for each of us, depending on many factors. Maintaining that balance will be more difficult for some of us than others depending on circumstances. Your Noahide friends can help you figure some things out or simply be a sounding board.

    As you continue in your walk with Hashem, remember to invest time and effort in building friendships with other Noahides, both online and in real life. It’s an investment that will pay off in more ways than you can imagine. And, always remember that we are all part of a greater worldwide community of Noahides that will continue to grow and grow as time goes on.

    Remember that you are not alone in all this!

    References[+]

    References
    ↑1 Numbers 10:29 – “Chovav, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moshe’s father-in-law” is identified by many commentators (such as Ibn Ezra) as none other than Yithro. Rather than converting and becoming an Israelite, as Moshe urged him, he instead chose to return to his own people in order to help bring them to the Torah.
    ↑2 I hear Minneapolis is a nice place to live and even has some swell Noahides!
    ↑3 Of course, be sensible about all this, and use caution – there are plenty of weirdos out there on the internet!
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    Next Article Teshuvah and Noahides: Can Noahides make Teshuvah?
    Abby Sookraj

    Abby lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband, Jacob, where she spends her days working as a paralegal and her nights working in her lovely garden. She stumbled upon the idea of being a Noahide on the Jews for Judaism website, long ago, and now lives her life as the Almighty requires, striving "to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with HaShem" (Micah 6:8).

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    31 Comments

    1. .martha wachuka on May 12, 2015 9:26 am

      thanks alot .am a noahide from kenya.Baruck HaShem

      Reply
      • Jacob Scharff on May 13, 2015 5:23 am

        Wow! It’s always great to hear from Noahides in different parts of the world! Are there other Noahides in Kenya?

        Reply
        • yosef kariuki 57 yr my 3 sons yacb ad benymn ar noahides my wife miriam a chrstian of yeshua on December 16, 2015 12:52 pm

          Your Comment yes bevkasha shalom am a noahide in kenya ad ffty others

          Reply
        • martha on April 22, 2019 6:28 am

          Shalom Jackob,
          Yes we have Noahide community in kenya

          Reply
    2. annie on May 12, 2015 9:47 am

      Thank you for your article, it was very encouraging to read. Where we live there are only two, but it is growing and people are asking, which is a good thing…….yeah!!

      What an exciting Time to live in…where Truth will flow and swish thru the world like a mighty River… Baruch HaShem for His tender mercies to mankind!

      Reply
      • Jacob Scharff on May 13, 2015 5:24 am

        Amen w’amen!

        Reply
    3. Jason Taylor on May 14, 2015 3:18 am

      HI,
      I am a noahide from Australia. I really enjoyed reading this article, well done! Is there any other noahides in Australia

      Reply
      • Abby Sookraj on May 15, 2015 11:43 pm

        Hi Jason. So glad you enjoyed it! There’s a couple of online places that might be helpful in finding fellow Australian Noahides…
        Try this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/299522296780669/
        Or this Google group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/noahideaustralia

        If they’re not super active, I suggest contact each member individually and connecting that way. That’s what we usually do. If we’re ever in your part of the world we’ll be sure to look you up!

        Reply
        • Jason Taylor on May 16, 2015 3:33 am

          Thanks for the help

          Reply
          • Phillip Nyssen on December 30, 2016 5:21 am

            Hi Jason, I am in Brisbane, which city do you live in?

            Reply
            • Adrian Vink on January 28, 2018 12:58 am

              Shalom Phillip Nysse.

              Nice to hear from you from the Brisbane region. I/we are just north of Brisbane about 50 km’s in a growing town of Caboolture. We have a small group here in this town and growing steaderly, plus a few overseas as well. You are welcome to contact me if you wish.
              Shalom,
              Adrian.

      • Adrian Vink on January 28, 2018 12:46 am

        Hi Jason Taylor – I am a Noahide in Australia, just north of Brisbane, Queensland. I have been a Noahide for about 20 years now. Like-wise, great article above. Always interested to hear about other Noahides esp., in OZ. As far as I know, there are about 10 – 12 other Noahide families in OZ, but I think that there are far more scattered throughout the land.

        Shalom
        Adrian.

        Reply
      • Simon B P Davis on April 12, 2020 7:37 pm

        Hi
        Just sern a new F.B page Noahides of Australia This maybe a hugh help for you finding local Noahides.

        Reply
    4. Habba Fe Daño on July 24, 2015 4:46 am

      Hello! I’m a Noahide from the Philippines and I love this article. I can say that I am indeed very blessed to belong in a growing Noahide community here. Would love to make more friends may it be virtually or face-to-face. This was indeed very encouraging. Hope to read the rest of the parts of this series of articles.

      Reply
    5. Habba Fe DAÑO on July 24, 2015 4:57 am

      The part of which some noahides try, or desire to emulate Jewish practices, customs, and etc., I think, is a very important point to take note of.

      Reply
    6. Douglas on April 20, 2016 9:34 am

      Excellent matter.

      I am a Brazilian noahide, speaker of the Portuguese language (I’m now using Google translator to write to you). I am very happy here in Brazil, gradually, the Noahide Community is growing and solidifying. And I am very happy that all over the world are coming up more and more new Noahides. May Hashem bless the responsible of this site, and also bless all Noahides the world.

      I wish to take the opportunity to ask permission to translate this matter and publish it in Brazil.

      Reply
      • Abby Sookraj on June 14, 2016 7:47 pm

        Shalom Douglas. Thank you for asking! I sent you an email about translating for your website. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Selma Bohannon on May 7, 2016 10:29 am

      Hello!!! Noahide in Jonesborough, TN USA So happy to have found these resources and sites!!

      Reply
      • G on April 16, 2017 9:55 pm

        Wow, no way! I lived in Jonesborough, TN (population 6,000) for years. Is there a Noahide community there?

        Reply
    8. ALIN LUPULESCU on May 21, 2016 8:02 pm

      Hi,
      my name is Alin from London UK. thank you for your website hope to meet some like minded people in London too. I’m attending a United Synagogue but I feel isolated because I’m not a jew so if there are noahides in London please get in touch.
      G-d bless,Shalom

      Reply
      • EMMANUEL on February 20, 2017 2:34 pm

        Hi Alin
        I am a London noahide and we have classes at LUBAVITCH at stanford hill. I would like to invite you to the classes . The studies are organised by James and Rabbi Sufrin just google noahide.net and join by feeling the form. James will contact you and invite you to the next class. However if its complicated here is my email: emmakon_2000@yahoo.co.uk I will let you know when the next class is due. or you can send me your email then I can forward it to James for him to contact you.
        Looking forward to here from you.
        emmanuel

        Reply
    9. yosef kariukikiboi@gmail.com on February 5, 2017 11:16 am

      Thanks let’s kip this page information for Noahide inventory am yosef from Kenya Noahide community

      Reply
    10. Patti Gardiner on February 25, 2017 2:40 am

      I sure do FEEL alone! 🙂 Anyone from Florida? I sure could use finding some “wisdom” choices to make me stronger, but also one or two to just kick around and have good times with who aren’t ignoramus’ !! LOL. Holler if ya wanna chit chat! Patsi Luvalot on FB!

      Reply
      • Abby Sookraj on April 15, 2017 9:22 pm

        Hi Patti. We visit Florida about once a year, we’d be happy to meet up for coffee (not this year though – long story, lol). We’ve met several Noahides in florida on both coasts that I’d be happy to connect you with. Email me at beingnoahide (at) gmail when you get connected.

        Reply
    11. Craig Martin on June 19, 2017 5:38 pm

      I am a potential Noahide in South Africa please help me understand the full process and where I need to start I absolutely have no idea as to where to go from here. This has been something I have considered for the past 2 years and finally came to a place where I can make a full commitment. Please guide me and help me with any tools I might need ,Websites articles ect

      Kind Regards

      Craig

      Reply
    12. Simon Benjamin Paul Davis on January 30, 2019 10:10 pm

      Hi Simon
      Im from the South Island of New Zealand.
      Pretty isolated living 5300 km from the South Pole. Would like to see if I can make contact with any via skype or g+ hangouts. Just yo have like minded or inspiring convo. If at all possible. If your reading this feeling cold its a blessed summers day around 30c on 31/01 2019

      Reply
    13. Nancy Reynolds on March 2, 2019 6:30 pm

      Hashem opened my eyes within the last 3 months. Are there any Noahides near the Denton Tx area?

      Reply
    14. Donald R MacLeod on January 24, 2020 10:09 am

      I am a Canadian Noahide. I know one other Noahide, here in the Province of Nova Scotia and he lives about 120 kms. from me. So, we both know the “alone” feeling. I live in a suburb of our provincial capitol, Halifax, called Lower Sackville (+/- 43 thousand). The metro area is probably around 250,000.
      I have been interested in the Noahide Movement for about 2+ years. My other primary social interest is the Masonic Lodge (Freemasonry). I have been a Mason since January 1972.
      I watch Rabbi Tovia Singer’s YouTube programs, follow Chabad on-line and AskNoah.org and other Noahide on-line sites.
      I had been joining a an audio-video/on-line Noahide group, in Montreal, for some time. However, the Bell on-line connection, from here was at least bad, so, unfortunately, that ended. I maintain contact with, Nota Feinstein, my teacher and friend.
      I recently established contact with the Halifax (Maritime) Chabad community’s rabbi and I hope that relationship will evolve. That synagogue (all 3 metro area synagogues) is/are located, in downtown Halifax about 22 kms from our home.
      Well, I have babbled on long enough. If you are, like me, not close to other Noahide brothers and sisters, and you want to chat with someone, please feel free to contact me via email nova.don@hotmail.com

      I will download an audio-visual program shortly. I’m having difficulty doing so, for some unknown reason.

      Shalom
      Donald (“Don”) MacLeod

      Reply
    15. Simon B P Davis on April 12, 2020 7:44 pm

      Hi
      Feel like Im one out of the box. Or in a Box. I’m from Dunedin New Zealand. I dont know how to fit, as 3cculed by Beni Isreal and any Noahides as Im same sex attracted, I know the law am found j7dged by christatin or strict Orthodox Jews. So dont rally make friends. Im very isolated would l9ve to make a lical friend and be able to Sutdy learn with another. Any segestions how. As I agree many same sex attracted fall into preconcived ideas. Like I said Im not in that or any box Help if you can thank you
      I

      Reply
    16. Philip on September 12, 2020 8:33 am

      Looking for fellow Noachites in South Africa.

      Reply
    17. Robin on July 27, 2023 3:24 am

      Wow, in reading through all of the posts and comments here, I’m BLOWN AWAY by what diverse backgrounds we all come from!!! I don’t even understand how some of them led to Noahidism, but I’m happy to see those people here!! 😀

      I’m in western Oregon, USA. Any other Oregonians here? 😀

      Reply

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