Every action a human being does has three dimensions of effect.
It affects:
the performer of the action.
the other person or persons involved.
those who witness the action, indeed the whole society.
For example, if A steals money from B,
A affects himself; his own level of honesty and integrity is diminished.
He also affects B, who is not only out that amount of money, but whose level of trust is now diminished.
In addition, he affects whoever witnesses or hears of the theft, for stealing is now added to their concept of possible human behaviour. The more thefts they witness or hear about, the more the "possible" becomes the "normal."
This third effect actually encompasses not only those individuals who witness or hear about the theft, but society as a whole.
Individuals started to steal. Each and every theft chipped away at the standard of honesty in society. What was once idiosyncratic became the norm. In this same way, every action performed by every individual, subtly but tangibly, affects the whole.
Judaism has two words that embody this concept.
"Kiddush Hashem" means those actions that reveal God's presence in the world.
"Hillul Hashem" means those actions that hide God's presence.
Whenever a human being performs an act of integrity, honesty, kindness, compassion, or self-sacrifice, he is revealing godliness in the world.
"Kiddush Hashem" literally means "sanctifying the Divine Name." Although the term is most often used to describe grand, heroic deeds, such as when Jews have chosen death rather than forsaking their religion, it applies as well to any action that reveals God in the world.
Since kindness is an attribute of God, more kindness in society means a greater revelation of God in the world.
Conversely, whenever a human being performs an act of meanness, cruelty, avarice, dishonesty, or selfishness, he is hiding God's presence in this world.
"Hillul" comes from the Hebrew word for "empty space"; a Hillul Hashem makes the world seem empty of God.
Every action is a stone thrown into an infinite pond; the ripples it causes go out in ever greater circles, endlessly.
It affects:
the performer of the action.
the other person or persons involved.
those who witness the action, indeed the whole society.
For example, if A steals money from B,
A affects himself; his own level of honesty and integrity is diminished.
He also affects B, who is not only out that amount of money, but whose level of trust is now diminished.
In addition, he affects whoever witnesses or hears of the theft, for stealing is now added to their concept of possible human behaviour. The more thefts they witness or hear about, the more the "possible" becomes the "normal."
This third effect actually encompasses not only those individuals who witness or hear about the theft, but society as a whole.
Individuals started to steal. Each and every theft chipped away at the standard of honesty in society. What was once idiosyncratic became the norm. In this same way, every action performed by every individual, subtly but tangibly, affects the whole.
Judaism has two words that embody this concept.
"Kiddush Hashem" means those actions that reveal God's presence in the world.
"Hillul Hashem" means those actions that hide God's presence.
Whenever a human being performs an act of integrity, honesty, kindness, compassion, or self-sacrifice, he is revealing godliness in the world.
"Kiddush Hashem" literally means "sanctifying the Divine Name." Although the term is most often used to describe grand, heroic deeds, such as when Jews have chosen death rather than forsaking their religion, it applies as well to any action that reveals God in the world.
Since kindness is an attribute of God, more kindness in society means a greater revelation of God in the world.
Conversely, whenever a human being performs an act of meanness, cruelty, avarice, dishonesty, or selfishness, he is hiding God's presence in this world.
"Hillul" comes from the Hebrew word for "empty space"; a Hillul Hashem makes the world seem empty of God.
Every action is a stone thrown into an infinite pond; the ripples it causes go out in ever greater circles, endlessly.
No comments:
Post a Comment