Built to Act: Discovering Your Role in a World That Needs You

We already have a vision for how to use our potential to fulfill our purpose. Now, let’s focus on one very specific dimension of that purpose: our relationship with the world and society.

I vividly recall a moment from my childhood that left a deep impression on me. It wasn’t a dramatic event, but its meaning was significant.

One afternoon, I was in the library when a group of young adults in their twenties walked in. They introduced themselves as students doing research, but as they left, I noticed that they were hiding rare books in their bags. Most likely, they intended to sell them. A girl, around 18 years old, noticed as well. I remember wondering: Should she tell the library staff? If she does, she might have to give a statement to the police and deal with discomfort- maybe it would be better for her to stay quiet and mind her own business?

But she didn’t hesitate. She got up, went to the guard, and alerted him. The guard, swift and firm, confiscated the books and sternly warned the group not to try anything like that again.

I learned a great deal from that incident. Reflecting on her courage, I began to ask myself: What are we here for? To passively watch the world spin on its axis? If G-d created us, it was so we would take action and contribute to the world around us.

Too often, we accept things with closed eyes, without considering how we might inspire change. The idea of “being content with our lot” does not mean that we must accept the world’s brokenness.

Making a Difference Matters

History is full of situations that demonstrate the importance of speaking up and taking action, even for everyday issues. When we notice a problem or a gap in society, we must step in and help, not to simply sigh and shrug.

Many stories of courage and positive action are found not only in distant history but even in recent times, such as during the Holocaust and the rebirth of the Jewish people.

Hannah Szenes (1921–1944) was a Jewish woman born in Hungary. From a young age, she witnessed the injustice done to Jews in her country. Deeply connected to her Jewish identity and Zionist ideals, she made the bold decision to immigrate to the Land of Israel, even though it meant leaving behind family, friends, and the culture she grew up in. When she learned what was happening in the Nazi death camps, she joined the British army to fight the Nazis. She was eventually captured and executed. Her life was short, but full of power and meaning.

Imagine yourself in 1945, at the end of the war. You’re a Jewish survivor who’s witnessed the horrors inflicted on your people. What would go through your mind? You might think: “This is the end. Our history is over. We will never recover. Look what’s become of us.”

That reaction would be understandable- many nations have vanished for far less. But many Jews didn’t think that way.

In the book Michtav MeEliyahu, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler wrote a letter to his son during that time. His words were heavy and mournful, but filled with clarity. He called on the Jewish people to ask why they were spared and to commit to rebuilding everything that had been destroyed. He insisted: Every second of life must be used to restore dignity and strength to the Jewish people.

In that moment- when there was no strength, no certainty, and barely any will- those words weren’t obvious. But they carried a truth that time would prove right. Thanks to those who listened, we’ve witnessed the powerful revival of the Jewish spirit and nation.

The World Needs You

If you live by these examples, your life will be full of meaning—and your conscience clear. Standing still can be a form of neglect. The world needs you, and you have no right to ignore the role G-d gave you.

Of course, we cannot change the world alone. We therefore must remember that G-d runs the world, not us. But our job is to do our part. We’re not here to change the world, but to change ourselves.

Those without vision tend to fall into pessimism and negativity and feel small in the face of the world’s problems. This mindset isn’t just unhelpful, but can be dangerous.

Trying to change the entire world with your own hands will wear you down and leave you empty, especially when the results are slow or invisible. That sense of failure leads to sadness, discouragement, and sometimes even extremism. Many terrorists and members of apocalyptic cults are driven by that same hopelessness: they see the world as broken beyond repair and look for radical ways to “fix” it- often through violence or self-destruction.

That must never be our path. Let us instead be steady, thoughtful, and brave. Let us act, with meaning, with clarity, and with heart.

Excerpted from 'Dan's Journey for the Meaning of Life,' by Roni Dayan. To purchase the book at Hidabroot Shops, click here.