Feeling down about the state of the world? Hard to read the newspapers with all of the tragedies that have become part and parcel of our daily lives?
Well the month of Elul is here – the month, with its daily blowing of the shofar, meant to remind us that Rosh Hashanah is just a short four weeks away and that we have got to give serious thought to our personal responsibility to do our part to make the coming year a better one.
In light of the immensity of our problems how can we possibly do anything that would make a difference? Can anyone of us imagine that we personally could actually play a role in changing the world?
It is precisely in response to this question that Judaism gave a startling answer. Maimonides expressed it by way of a remarkable illustration. Every one of us, he taught in his Laws of Repentance, needs to think that as God judges the world in His annual review before the High Holy Days, He finds it perfectly balanced between its sins and good deeds. Divine judgment withholds its final decree until you are brought into the equation. And if your deeds also seem to be almost perfectly balanced between the good and the evil, then one, just one additional good deed, no matter how small can be the one to tilt your judgment favorably, which in turn would decide the fate of all of humankind.
The most important piece of advice I can give anyone as I think about ways to change the world with the beginning of Elul are two words: think small.
It may be far-fetched. Yet the greatest philosopher of the Jewish people did not hesitate to phrase it this way in order to impress upon every one of us the truth that every person makes a difference – and every one of our actions has consequences on the divine scale of judgment.
That’s why I think the most important piece of advice I can give anyone as I think about ways to change the world with the beginning of Elul are two words: think small.
Just a few years ago Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel peace prize for turning the concept of thinking small into a major innovation which has already revolutionized the banking system as well as the lives of millions of people. It was in 1974 that Bangladesh was hit by a devastating flood followed by a severe famine. Yunus decided to lend $27 without any collateral to a group of women of the city of Joba nearby the University where he worked as a teacher. Women there made bamboo baskets but were forced to sell them at such a low price that could barely pay for the raw material. They could never purchase larger amounts for lack of capital. Yunus initiated what is now known as microcredit, allowing poor people anxious to make a go of small businesses to succeed.
With the small sum they received they were able to finance their work and to establish themselves. Micro-finance, or microcredit, was born. Thinking small, something never practiced before, created a new way of life and of opportunity. One small act changed the balance of the scale – and millions today prosper.
And there is yet another way to think small. It is expressed beautifully by way of a story told in the name of the Chofetz Chaim.
At one time, he was asked how he was able to have such a great impact on the Jewish world. This is how he answered: “Originally, I set out to change the world, but I failed. So I decided to scale back my efforts and only influence the Jewish community of Poland, but I failed there, too. So I targeted the community of my hometown of Radin, but I achieved no greater success. Then I gave all my effort to changing my own family and I failed at that as well. Finally, I decided to change myself and that’s how I had such an impact on the Jewish world.”
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
Leo Tolstoy came to the same conclusion. “Everyone thinks of changing the world,” he wrote, “but no one thinks of changing himself.” And so the world continues with its myriad flaws, everyone complaining about the common sins of others while paying very little attention to themselves.
Most people want to change the world to improve their lives, but the world they need to change first is the one inside themselves.
There is a movement today that has taken the concept a step further into practice. It concerns itself not with the really large issues, issues which realistically most of us will be unable to influence, but with the smaller daily interactions which in fact define everyday life. It’s called “small acts of kindness” and I love it precisely because its demands are so easy and yet, if universally practiced, would really change our lives.
The suggestions are simple. Choose one or a dozen:
- Give a genuine compliment to somebody at least once a day.
- Write down what you appreciate about another family member and pass it along.
- Check in with someone who’s sick.
- Ask if you can help someone who may be having a difficult time in life right now.
- Lend your vehicle to take someone without one shopping for their necessities.
- Hold the door open for the person behind you.
- Make a card for someone special.
- Deliver flowers anonymously to a hospital patient.
- Ask a senior citizen about their life story and truly listen.
- Give a hug to a loved one or friend.
- Offer to pay another person’s food bill.
- Lend a hand to someone doing hard work.
- Donate to a homeless person, perhaps give them some food.
- Leave a kind server a generous tip.
- Let a person out from a side road who’s waiting to get into the main road.
- Help another parent out with a stroller or carrying things.
- Give someone a book that you no longer need.
- Give your parents or grandparents a call just because.
- Volunteer at a community event.
Grandiose plans are great – but we rarely do them. Impressive ideas for changing the world are, yes, impressive but frequently impractical and unrealizable. So perhaps this year before Rosh Hashanah we could scale down our ambitions and think small – and in that way change ourselves and our own world.
(16) Anonymous, August 23, 2020 1:35 PM
An excellent thought
A bit of humility towards a greater humanity. Thank you.
(15) Brandi Bell, August 23, 2020 1:27 PM
I am a Therapist, And also care Deeply about My Family, My Friends, and My Community! These words resonate with me As we are Called before Rosh Hashsnah To Harken and Reflect! These words present a valuable lens through which we might reflect, to prepare in these weeks before Rosh Hashanah! Thank You!
(14) Anonymous, September 27, 2019 1:11 PM
Give your parents and grandparents a call. And be glad you have them. In 2006 my spouse and I no longer had grandparents or parents and our 4 kids had no grandparents . Two of our kids cannot remember their grandparents. Be grateful, one day you will miss them. Sorry to be a downer, but this is what it is.
(13) Nancy, September 6, 2019 11:19 AM
Another perspective on making small changes
This may seem tangential, but please bear with me. There is a website called flylady.net, which discusses housecleaning and decluttering. Marla Cilley, a/k./a the FlyLady believes that the physical clutter we possess keeps us from moving forward in our lives. I agree with her 100%. She also states that setting a timer for 15 minutes and working on a task can be very liberating. I can honestly say that when I have fewer possessions in my environment I am able to learn better. She is not Jewish, but I am guessing a great deal of her philosophy is based on Torah teachings. The point is that small changes really CAN lead to big accomplishments over time.
(12) MESA, September 5, 2019 3:02 PM
I'm a writer and this ties into an article that I'm writing right now about raising awareness of problems. You have to start small. And this applies to many areas. For example, my nutritionist friend told me that small changes made one at a time are key to losing excess weight and getting healthy. Start small and then go bigger. Thank you.
(11) Naomi Marks, September 4, 2019 6:53 PM
Lovely article in preparation for Rosh Hashana
This was a beautiful article. Such a wonderful concept, to start with oneself and to start small. תודה רבה לשנה טובה ומתוקה
(10) Fetle M, September 4, 2019 8:53 AM
May The Almighty shower you with blessings; for sharing this great wisdom!
(9) Hank Wallace, September 4, 2019 2:45 AM
Puzzling assertion
Rabbi Blech's assertion that "Most people want to change the world to improve their lives" puzzles me, as it seems likewise to puzzle Meyer Wolfsheim (Comment 4 in this thread).
"Change the world" seems a bizarrely arduous, indirect way to improve one's life. (Indeed, Rabbi Blech evocatively quotes even the altruistic Chofetz Chaim as scaling back from "set out to change the world" to "only influence the Jewish community of Poland . . . hometown . . . my own family" to "I decided to change myself and that's how I had such an impact on the Jewish world.") Don't "most people" -- if their goal is merely "to improve their lives" -- act directly (read a book, advance professionally, make a new friend, even buy a flashy car) rather than try to "change the world" (bring world peace, cure disease)?
And people who DO "want to change the world" seem to have reasons more noble, reasons that are by definition more expansive, than merely "to improve their [own] lives."
Alan S.'s response (appended to Comment 4) seems to misread Meyer as saying Rabbi Blech's calling for "the world becoming a better place, somehow, whether it starts with you or others" (Alan's reasonable paraphrase) is what's "very sick." Rather, Meyer specifically says "'changing the world' in order for MY life to improve -- I believe that notion is very rare (and very sick)." (Meyer's all-caps emphasis.) By "very sick," I presume Meyer means delusional, grandiose, absurdly inefficacious: trying to change the world IN ORDER to improve one's own life by some 7-billion-people-to-1 trickle-down theory.
Aside from Rabbi Blech's puzzling assertion about WHY "most people want to change the world," Meyer's insightful comment seems totally compatible with Rabbi Blech's uplifting general point about EFFECT: that "'small acts of kindness' . . . are so easy and yet, if universally practiced, would really change our lives."
Dvirah, September 6, 2019 12:27 PM
Defining a World
I believe the mistake is on defining "the world" too broadly. It might be more correct to say "their world" - ie, one's immediate surroundings (including people). That is what forms an individual's experience of "the world", even in these cyber-living days.
(8) Anonymous, September 3, 2019 10:25 PM
The power of small
Thank you for this very powerful article on taking the first step and doing what one can to change first myself and then helping others.
(7) Shimon Leib, September 2, 2019 11:11 PM
Very uplifting especially now as we begin Elul. It’s always easier to accomplish your goals in small steps rather than big ones. Rabbi Blech is right on base. I always enjoy reading his commentary and listening to his talks.
(6) Aaron Bernstein, September 1, 2019 11:08 PM
The Chofetz Chaim
The Chofetz Chaim’s modesty is amazing!
(5) N.S. Greenfield, September 1, 2019 8:50 PM
Go for it Yasher Koach
It's so "easy". Give it a try.
(4) Meyer Wolfsheim, September 1, 2019 6:03 PM
The central assumption seems way off
Is there any evidence at all for this broad assertion: "Most people want to change the world to improve their lives..."? Self-improvement takes many forms, some obviously more successful than others. But "changing the world" in order for MY life to improve -- I believe that notion is very rare (and very sick).
Alan S., September 3, 2019 1:45 PM
Really?
Sorry Mr. Wolfsheim, while you may not agree with Rabbi Blech's central assumption, characterizing it as "very sick" is wrong. I personally think that R. Blech's central assumption has great merit. What is wrong with the world becoming a better place, somehow, whether it starts with you or others? Nothing is wrong with this idea. And perhaps a better world will in turn make things better for you in your particular situation. Call it 'karma' if it makes you happy.
Ron Spekter, September 3, 2019 11:20 PM
Yes, really
Dear Alan S.,
We all want the world to be a better place. And you're right that it doesn't matter who it starts with. Really, it should start with all of us!
But you clearly misconstrue Meyer W.'s comment. He didn't come out against the world becoming a better place! Instead, he questioned Rabbi Blech's assertion that most people want to change the world in order for their lives to get better. I'm with Meyer on this one. Alan, how many people do you know who need to "change the world" in order for them to make a positive adjustment to their lives? I don't know a single individual who feels that way! I'm guessing that Meyer doesn't know any such person either.
Meanwhile, shanah tovah. May each of our mitzvahs make the world a little better.
(3) Linda Hartum, September 1, 2019 1:45 PM
How to Change the World
I just finished reading this article. Thank you for the wonderful, practical advice. Time to start by changing me!
(2) Richard, September 1, 2019 11:51 AM
Your ideas will achieve the most success! However,
Unfortunately the vast majority of our country's problems result from the corruption and inefficiency of our leadership (government. media, etc.)! We have become a nation governed by money and politics! If we have the skill set (and I wish I did), we could help redirect the path our country has taken, but alas, that is ALMOST impossible. Doing the small things around us is perhaps the best alternative but in the end, it will take Hashem's devine skill set to change mankind's behavior.
Nancy, September 4, 2019 11:46 AM
To commenter #2 Richard
No one person can fix the ills of our country. You mention having the skill set to help redirect the path, but nobody came out of the womb with said skill set. Looking inside of oneself is the best way to begin making outward change. I personally have known many people who sit around and complain why something "just can't be done. It's too hard." You know what? Change is VERY hard, but for me listening to naysayers complain does nothing for me. (I'm not talking about someone dealing with clinical depression. My comments are about people who just complain all the time.)
(1) Chaya, September 1, 2019 9:36 AM
Great article !
Thanks for this superb article ! Gemilut Chasadim, the *giving* of loving- kindness was a core component of my growing up in Orthodox Hebrew Day school.
This article brought it back, the many, many opportunities available to do an act of kindness. I love the concept to think and do *small.* Thanks again.