Page 10 - Mizrachi-RZC Sefer Berachot 5782

My Life Matters!
Rabbi Elie Mischel
Head of the International School, Jerusalem College of Technology
Editor, HaMizrachi Magazine

HL Mencken was one of the greatest journalists of the early 20th
century, a man whose sharp pen wounded Presidents on all sides of
the political spectrum. In one of his essays, Mencken summed up
his view of humanity in a particularly brutal way:
“The existence of most human beings is of absolutely no
significance to history or human progress. They live and die as
anonymously and as nearly uselessly as so many bullfrogs or
houseflies. They are, at best, undifferentiated slaves upon an
endless assembly line, and at worst they are robots who leave their
mark upon time only by occasionally falling into the machinery, and
so inconveniencing their betters.”
In Mencken’s view, the vast majority of us will accomplish little or
nothing of lasting value in this life. Our busy lives, filled with work
and deadlines and obligations that seem so important to us now –
none of this will be remembered; none of this will matter in the
grand scheme of history.
Fortunately, Jewish tradition forcefully rejects Mencken’s
depressing view of life. Maimonides writes:
“Throughout the entire year, a person should always look at himself
as equally balanced between merit and sin and the world as equally
balanced between merit and sin. If he performs one sin, he tips his
balance and that of the entire world to the side of guilt… [On the
other hand,] if he performs one mitzvah, he tips his balance and that
of the entire world to the side of merit and brings deliverance and
salvation to himself and others.” (Laws of Repentance, 3:4)
It may be true, as Mencken says, that the vast majority of human
beings will not be remembered by future generations. But as
Maimonides so powerfully writes, every Jew can bring deliverance
and salvation to the world! In the eyes of Hashem, significance has
nothing to do with fame or reputation.
This is why, continues Maimonides, it is customary for all of Am
Yisrael to “up our game” during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva. We
give more to charity and do more Mitzvot than usual, for we believe
that we, and our actions, can truly change the fate of our people in
the year ahead.
Whether we are community leaders or Jews who sit in the back of
Shul, Am Yisrael and the State of Israel need our help. Each of one
us can make a difference!