Change One May Doubt That One Person

Change

One may doubt that one person can make an impact on the world. There are times however where the actions of a single person can make a world of difference. In essence, such actions can save the world, if we just start the chain reaction.

However, the Jewish Talmud asks the question of why the human race was created in the beginning as a single human being, as opposed to the creation of many people at all at once. The Talmud teaches that just as Adam was created in the beginning and he represented the entire human population of the world. In just this way, we should look at each individual life as if he or she were the same as the entire population of the world. In this way, when one saves one human life, it is as if one saved an entire world at one stroke (Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a) (Bart).

Just as the Jewish Talmud uses a parable to generalize what should be universal human behavior. A good act that benefits one person can be considered to be just as if it benefited the whole world. Certainly, if one person worked hard and did the best they could, they can make a difference.

We often find the world divided by baseless hatred. This is the reason that Jewish philosophy holds that the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed because of baseless hatred. It also holds that baseless love will cause it to be rebuilt. This baseless love is made up of individual acts of love which will in concert with each other change the world. The Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av reminds Jews that each time they choose to overcome their feelings of baseless hatred with baseless love, we come closer to a knowledge of God, who loves humanity even though they do not deserve it.

Therefore, we all should love each other, even though we do not deserve it (Frazier).

While these beliefs come from Judaism, the Jewish religion is a basis for so much of humanity's philosophy and religion. The Golden Rule comes from it, as well as so many other philosophical ideas about peace and love. Love is certainly and emotion that can begin (and also end) with the actions of one person. While it may take two to enjoy the connection to its fullest, it takes one to start the tango. One person has to throw off their selfishness to begin the selflessness that is needed to make the change that leads to another change and from there to a series of changes in the world. The chain hopefully will come once one does the first act of kindness. This could be as simple as a smile, a hello, or a favor that will inspire other seemingly unrelated acts. One never knows where the inspiration will lead (or where it will end). Hopefully, it will go on and on forever.