Be the Breeze: The Power of One Soul on Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath recorded this sermon before Rosh Hashana as he was preparing and we are sharing it with you... of course it’s nothing close to the magic of Rosh Hashana at Chabad NDG in Montreal. 

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath’s Rosh Hashanah sermon reminds us that the world doesn’t change through headlines or massive movements alone, it turns on small hinges. From Newton’s apple to Rosa Parks’ quiet defiance, from Elkanah’s changed walking route to Raoul Wallenberg’s forged passports, history is reshaped by individuals who cared enough to act.

Each of us is that “breeze” a gentle but decisive force nudging another soul toward light, dignity, and hope. The shofar calls us not to despair at the scale of the world’s darkness, but to rise with courage, to see that every mitzvah matters, and to live as though even one small act can tilt the future. This Rosh Hashanah, the call is clear: be the breeze that shifts the course of another’s life.

Key Takeaways

• Small Acts Matter: World-changing moments often begin with the smallest gestures, a smile, a word of encouragement, an invitation to Shabbat.
• History Turns on the Individual: From scientists to prophets, seamstresses to diplomats, one person’s choice has often redirected the course of nations.
• Jewish Legacy of Influence: The story of Elkanah and Shmuel teaches that our steps, words, and presence ripple far beyond what we see.
• Moral Courage is Contagious: Rosa Parks’ bus seat and Wallenberg’s forged passports remind us that courage inspires movements.
• The Shofar’s Call: Rosh Hashanah summons us to battle despair with action, to hear the call of responsibility, and to know that every soul counts.

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