Beginning of All Good

Maimonides writes that people are affected on many levels by their friends and neighbors. He exhorts people to seek a society where G-d and Torah are central. If no such place is to be found, one should go live alone in the desert rather than a corrupt society.This is the primary reason why Jews seek to live in a Torah based community. But what happens if we either find this impossible to fulfill, or, if one finds that even in a near-ideal community, there are still negative individuals who are bringing him down? Rabbi Nachman says the following "Abraham was one" (Ezekiel 33:24): That is, he served G-d because he was one. He pictured himself that he is alone in the world. He didn't look at others who had strayed from G-d, or who were trying to stop him (from serving G-d), not even his own father..." We hopefully have community, family, friends and love. But ultimately, it is the sense of a unique and personal relationship with G-d, that carries us through the hard times of sadness, loneliness, and self destructive temptations and behaviors. Yes, we need others. But a firm individual connection with G-d, as Abraham had, is the beginning of all good.