Fix Yourself, Fix the World

There is a famous comment made by Rabbi Yisrael Salanter:

When I was young, I wanted to change the world. Then I realized that I could not change the world. And so I thought, maybe I will change my nation. Then I realized that I could not change my nation. And so I thought, maybe I will change my village. Then I realized that I could not change my village. And so I thought, maybe I will change my family. Then I realized that I could not change my family. And so I thought, maybe I will change myself.

Then I realized, if I would change myself, this would change my family. And if I would change my family, this would change my village. And if I would change my village, this would change my nation. And if I would change my nation, I would change the world.

This comes from the Gra, with his parable of the jug and the glasses.

People like hearing it from Goyim, instead? Fine:

From YouTube, here.

Some other articles:

  1. The Apocryphal Story of Brothers on the Temple Mount
  2. ‘What’s the Difference Between Hyehudi and X (a Similar Site)?’
  3. The Nesivos On Causing Unintentional Damage
  4. Our Articles About Non-Judaism: A ‘Declaration of Intent’
  5. Appreciating the Gifts of Creation

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