A Moment in Time: Shanah Tova! It Only Takes a Second to be a Mensch

Dear all,

I was at a funeral this week for the mother of a dear friend.  Each sibling spoke of the gentle wisdom their mother implanted in their souls.

One lesson that resonated was,

“It only takes a second to be a mensch.”  

Now, mensch is a Yiddish word derived from German meaning “man.” But a mensch is much more than that.  A mensch is a person of character: a thinking, caring, humble, and noble individual.

A mensch holds the door open for someone.
A mensch allows others to sit on a crowded bus.
A mensch is a courteous driver.
A mensch makes decisions with integrity.

The difference between being a mensch and not being a mensch truly happens in second.  And that second is the window into our reputation.

Tonight, with Rosh HaShanah, we enter the Jewish year 5778.  We re-adjust our lives in hopes that we can make a difference in the world.

And so we remember, it often takes even less than a moment in time. The future can unfold with each second in time – because that’s all it takes to be a mensch.

Ron joins me in wishing you a sweet, happy, and healthy New Year!

Shanah Tova,

Rabbi Zach Shapiro