A teaching from Rabbi Israel Salanter (1810-1883) The Founder of the Modern Musar, the Jewish Ethical Mindfulness Movement
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. But I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my country. When I found I couldn’t change my country, I began to focus on my town. However, I discovered that I couldn’t change the town, and so as I grew older, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, but I’ve come to recognize that if long ago I had started with myself, then I could have made an impact on my family. And, my family and I could have made an impact on our town. And that, in turn, could have changed the country and we could all indeed have changed the world.
As we have all bear witness the past weeks, change can be planned or spontaneous. There are times throughout our lives when we have purpose to make a change. There are also times in our lives when we have an obligation towards change. That change now is the strong call for Racial Justice. We don’t have to be self-actualized or be experts on an issue to foster change. Sometimes fellowship, support and a helping hand is just what is needed. But we can make a greater impact when we approach an issue with increased knowledge. So while I urge you to continue to make your voice heard and stand up for your values, now is an opportune time to expand your understanding of the urgent issues at hand, so that when we make a full return to our world we will be better equipped. Enlighten yourself, so that your engagement and actions might spark something in each of us that will indeed lead to meaningful change.
May justice reign. May God bless you and keep you. May you be blessed with a week of peace.
