A Nuclear Reaction
You may have heard the expression "time is money," but Judaism teaches us that time has infinite value when used appropriately. Can we place a price tag on the time we spend with our children or grandchildren at the Seder table while transmitting the beauty of our Jewish heritage to them? Can we measure the moment when a doctor saves a patient's life in an operating room? Is it possible to fully comprehend and appreciate the impact we have on another person through seemingly insignificant encounters or conversations?
In 1976, renowned author, radio host, lecturer, and business consultant Rabbi David Lapin was at an apparent crossroads during the early stages of his career. At that time, he was working for a commodity trading company in Johannesburg while also establishing a Jewish studies academy and delivering dozens of weekly lectures to hundreds of Jewish students in the region. With two full-time jobs, he felt that he was spreading himself too thin to successfully manage all of his responsibilities. Seeking guidance, he decided to consult the Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson.
“I will never forget meeting the Rebbe…,” recalled Rabbi Lapin. “Indeed, the meeting lasted about fifteen minutes, during which time I felt that he was looking right inside me and communicating with me on a level that transcends the mind, getting straight to the heart and the essence of being. In addition, I sensed a kindness and warmth – all at once I was in the presence of a great man, an intellectual genius, a leader of the Jewish people, but also a grandfather who cared about me. In short, it was an amazing experience.
I asked him about the responsibilities that I faced and the limitations that I felt, which seemed overwhelming. How could I manage it all? What should I give up – my business or my Torah teaching? Where should I direct my energies?
His answer to me was that I should give up nothing and continue working in business while still teaching Torah. He explained that being in business increased my ability to bring people closer to Judaism; my profession increased my influence and was a vehicle of sanctifying the name of G‑d. He stressed that I would have greater impact if I was involved with both business and Torah.
I was still very young, and I couldn’t imagine how I could continue to do both. So, I burst out with: ‘I don’t think that this is realistic. I’m already up to here … I feel very humbled and very honored that you would even talk to me this way, but it just isn’t realistic!’
I remember clearly his response to my outburst. He said: ‘I’ll tell you what your difficulty is – you think that human interaction is like a chemical reaction. But it isn’t. In a chemical reaction, there are two elements which interact with each other, and they result in a third compound. But people aren’t chemicals. When people interact, the result is a nuclear reaction. A nuclear reaction occurs at the core and then it radiates in a spherical, rather than a linear, way. As the outer rings of your sphere get bigger and bigger, the number of people you are touching gets bigger and bigger – indeed, there is no limit.
When you touch the heart of one person, there is a nuclear reaction because that person in turn touches so many other people. So, each person you touch – even if it is a moment’s interaction – represents a nuclear reaction in terms of impact. That’s what it really is.’
He was right of course, and way ahead of the research that, since then, has proven his words to be true. For example, the Framingham Heart Study showed that people’s mood affects others three times removed – that is, one’s friend’s friend’s friends. We impact people not just with our words but with our moods and our energy.
I got it. Indeed, he changed my entire mindset when he said, ‘Don’t underestimate what each person is capable of doing. Just remember that when you touch one person you are causing a nuclear reaction.’”
From a Jewish perspective, the genuine value of our time is not based on external factors and circumstances but is measured by our unique mission and purpose on this earth. When we begin to view our lives through that lens, our time assumes infinite value, regardless of our age, lifestyle, family, or business responsibilities. Every moment presents an opportunity to positively impact the world around us. Each Mitzvah that we perform is an opportunity for our souls to connect with G-d and assist one another.
In this week’s Torah portion Emor we learn about a unique Mitzvah called Sefiras Haomer, to count each of the 49 days between the Holidays of Passover and Shavuot. As the verse states: “You shall count for yourselves from the morrow of the Shabbat, from the day on which you bring the Omer offering; seven complete weeks they shall be (Leviticus 23:15).”
The Sefer Hachinuch explains that following their exodus from Egypt over three thousand years ago, the Jewish people counted each day in anticipation of receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. Shortly after being granted the gift of freedom on Passover, they were given the Torah, which serves as an instruction manual for fulfilling their purpose in life. To be truly liberated, it is not enough to leave our personal "slavery" and confinements; we also need a purpose and goal in life. Without clarity and purpose, overcoming one negative habit or addiction may simply leave a void for another to take its place.
Each year we look forward to this monumental moment by counting each day until we reach the climax which we celebrate of Shavuot. We prepare ourselves by working on refining our own character traits. The lesson of counting, the process of spiritual refinement and maturation, continues past Shavuot and applies the whole year round.
We should always be counting; every day—even every hour—must be valued as an opportunity for further spiritual and material growth. At the end of each day, we should know what we accomplished that day and what still remains to be done. Furthermore, when we count, the number always rises: We must ensure that today is better than yesterday and that tomorrow will be even better than today.
Just as the Jewish people counted the days in anticipation of receiving the Torah many years ago, so too we count the last few moments in the current exile in anticipation for the coming of Redemption when peace and prosperity will prevail for all nations on earth!
