The Butterfly Effect

On December 29, 1972, American meteorologist Edward Lorenz presented a talk entitled "Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set a Tornado in Texas?"

The Butterfly Effect concept, highlighting the possibility that small causes may have momentous effects, eventually became a metaphor used in very diverse contexts, many of them outside the realm of science.

Of course, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, this concept became even more relevant.

Recent studies have shown that one of the top issues which young people struggle with today is low self-esteem and an inferiority complex. Unless we launch a successful startup or build a transformative organization which will influence millions of people, we may feel that our actions don’t have much significance.

Despite all the affluence and luxuries our generation enjoys relative to previous ones, we may fail to realize the important role we each play in this world.

When the Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, first launched the now famous Mitzvah campaigns, encouraging Jewish men and women across the globe from all levels of observance to increase in doing Mitzvot like lighting Shabbat candles, giving even small amounts of charity in a Pushkah (charity box) each day, donning Tefillin, affixing a Mezuzah on the doorposts, studying Torah etc., many people wondered about the significance of it. They questioned the value and impact of doing one isolated Mitzvah if it devoid of a full time commitment, consistency, or an intellectual and emotional appreciation.

Some felt that perhaps we should better focus on more global issues like civil rights, social justice, ending world hunger etc. to encourage young people to make a difference in the world. How can a single Mitzvah make a truly meaningful global impact?

However, the Torah teaches us that every Mitzvah that we do ignites the spark of G-d that we each possess and develops an infinite bond with our creator. The bond which is produced as a result of the Mitzvah transcends time and space and makes a lasting impact on the world around us.

While there are many global issues that also need to be addressed, we must never underestimate the power of a single Mitzvah performed by one small child or one nice word exchanged with a complete stranger.

On June 7, 1981, Israel launched a daring and ultimately successful attack on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor, saving the entire world from mortal danger.

A day prior to this secret and risky mission, an urgent directive from the Rebbe was dispatched to his emissaries around the globe to stop their usual pre-Shavuot holiday activities and spend every spare moment to encourage Jewish children to acquire their own letter in a newly written Torah scroll.

Two months earlier, the Rebbe had explained the importance of writing Torah scrolls in which hundreds of thousands of Jewish children will be partners through purchasing one letter for the minimal cost of one dollar. Through every child "owning" his or her own letter, hundreds of thousands of Jewish children around the globe would be united in one joint scroll.

In a public address, the Rebbe stated that “we now live in a world rent with confusion and turmoil...Nowadays, even a single deranged, demented, or frustrated individual who has access to a destructive button or trigger can upset an entire region or country...Such unprecedented chaos must be countered with unique measures.” The Rebbe continued to state that this new campaign for Jewish unity achieved through the communal children’s Torah – in addition to Israel taking the natural steps necessary to achieve peace – would ensure peace in Israel and across the world.

At the time, it may have been difficult to fathom the significance of children acquiring a letter in a Torah scroll and its relevance to Israel’s security. However, the clear miraculous results of the victory the very next day was testimony to the great importance of their accomplishments.

The source for the Mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll is taught in this week’s Torah portion Vayeilech. “And now, write for yourselves this song, and teach it to the Children of Israel. Place it into their mouths, in order that this song will be for Me as a witness for the children of Israel.”- Deuteronomy 31:19

Ideally, every individual should either write or commission a scribe to write an entire Torah scroll on their behalf. However, due to the great amount of effort and costs that this would entail, it is the accepted practice to purchase at least one letter in a communal Torah thus fulfilling our obligation. Since a Torah scroll which is missing even one letter is invalid, acquiring one letter is comparable to having ownership over the rest of the Torah as well.

The mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll was given to the Jewish people — and fulfilled by Moses — directly before our people’s entry into the land of Israel over 3000 years ago. It is the last of the 613 Mitzvot of the Torah. Our Sages have taught that the fulfillment of this Mitzvah is one of the preparatory steps leading to the conclusion of the current exile and to the advent of the era when we will again enter Israel, led by Moshiach.

The children's Letter-in-the-Torah Campaign is still active (see here), and has since been broadened to include adults too (see here). If you have not yet had the opportunity to do so already, a letter may be acquired on behalf of yourself, a relative or a friend. To date, since the start of the Torah campaign, over 2 million Jewish children have acquired a letter in the children’s Torah scrolls.

May the unity of these letters be powerful enough to avert any threats to global peace and usher in the final redemption speedily in our days.