Not Given to be Given Away

On Rosh Hashanah, the day of man’s creation, we recall man’s merit, the momentous potential given to him to influence the whole world and his solemn responsibility to use his abilities fully.

Such great abilities were not only given for personal accomplishment, but to fulfill man’s mission of perfecting the world. One who thinks that his own mission can be performed by another should consider Adam, who was created individually, teaching us that each person is a “whole world.” Moreover, Adam could not hand his responsibilites over to someone else, for there was no one else. The same is true of any person’s mission in the world: it was not given to be given away.

When a person concentrates on the long-term implications of his actions for himself and the world, implications connected to the very purpose of creation-all impediment and obstacle is diminished and eliminated. For of what significance are impediments in the face of such a responsibility and privilege?

(Likkutei Sichot, vol. 9, p. 480)