10/09/2026
Dear Friends,
Now that the holidays are behind us, we return to our regular routines. Hopefully, we also take something with us from this special time that can make those routines a little better.
One lesson from the Torah is that every person can make a difference. The Talmud points out that when G-d created the world, He created Adam alone. One reason, our sages explain, was to teach us that no person should think, “What difference can I make? I’m only one person.” Every human being comes into the world with a unique perspective and a unique ability to contribute.
We often think of leadership as something reserved for people with impressive titles or positions. In reality, all of us are leaders in some way. At home, at work, with friends, or in our communities, people are influenced by what we say and, even more, by what we do.
Being a leader means having the courage to think independently and do what we know is right, even when it isn’t what everyone else is doing. But it also requires humility. Moses, the greatest leader in Jewish history, was also described as the most humble person. He knew his strengths, but never saw them as a reason to feel superior to others.
Each of us has something only we can contribute. We don’t have to change the whole world. Sometimes making a difference in one person’s life is enough. The important thing is to recognize that we matter, and to use our unique abilities to make a positive difference.
Shabbat shalom,
From Eli Mizrahi/الیاس کهن زاده