Yesterday was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. In many ways, Rosh Hashanah is like the day after the secular New Year—when we think about the previous year and make resolutions for how to be better. Making resolutions can feel overwhelming. It’s exhausting to examine an entire year and think about how to live a better life, but our Rabbi reminded us that growth doesn’t have to happen all at once—it can be a gradual, steady process.
He gave the example of one of the greatest names in baseball: Cal Ripken. What was Cal’s claim to fame? He broke the record for the most consecutive games played in Major League Baseball—2,632 games. He didn’t get the prize for being the best at anything in particular. He got the Woody Allen prize for baseball. Allen is famous for saying, “80% of life is just showing up.”
We often think we need to do something huge to leave a lasting impact, and that if we haven’t started by now, it’s too late. But that’s not true at all. It’s never too late to redefine your path or your legacy. The Rabbi told the following story.
A man walks up to a beautiful concert hall with the name “Mendelssohn Hall” proudly displayed above the doors. Curious, he asks the ticket attendant, “Is this hall named for the great composer Felix Mendelssohn, writer of magnificent symphonies?”
“No,” the attendant replies.
“Oh, maybe it’s named for his grandfather, Moses Mendelssohn, the famous Jewish philosopher?”
“Nope, not him either,” says the attendant.
“Well then, who is it named for?”
“Hershel Mendelssohn.”
“Hershel Mendelssohn? What did he write?”
“He wrote a check.”
So this is Hershel’s legacy. It seems ridiculous that a man would be remembered for a check that he wrote, but that’s exactly what happened to Alfred Nobel.
Today, most of us associate Alfred Nobel with the Nobel Prizes, awarded to those advancing peace, science, literature, and humanity. But that wasn’t what he was known for during his lifetime. Nobel was originally famous for his invention of dynamite, a substance that revolutionized mining and construction but also became a tool of war.
The popular story goes that in 1888, when Nobel’s brother Ludvig died, a French newspaper mistakenly published an obituary for Alfred instead. The headline supposedly read, “The merchant of death is dead,” and the obituary condemned him for making his fortune from explosives, implying his legacy was one of death and destruction. The shock of seeing how he might be remembered is often said to have spurred Nobel to change his legacy, resulting in the creation of the Nobel Prizes.1
Ultimately, the Nobel Prizes ensured that Alfred Nobel would be remembered not as the inventor of a destructive substance, but as someone who valued peace, scientific discovery, and cultural advancement. His legacy became far greater than his commercial successes, showing that it’s never too late to redefine what we leave behind. Nobel’s life teaches us that legacy is about more than just one invention or one chapter—it’s about the full narrative we build through our actions, intentions, and the positive impact we strive to create.
Footnote:
- While the Rabbi told the common story of the the mistaken obituary, the real history behind Nobel’s decision is more nuanced. Nobel had long been a man of complex ideas, a brilliant inventor with a deep interest in literature, philosophy, and peace. Even before this dramatic obituary incident, he had begun reflecting on how his wealth and influence could be used to advance human progress. He corresponded with pacifists and thinkers like Bertha von Suttner, who urged him to think about peace and disarmament. Her influence, along with his own internal conflicts about the use of his inventions in warfare, likely played a major role in shaping his vision for the prizes.
Nobel’s legacy plan wasn’t a last-minute change of heart after reading a newspaper. By 1895, a year before his death, he had already drafted his will, which set aside the vast majority of his fortune to fund annual awards for those who brought the greatest benefit to humanity. His decision came as a shock to his family and peers—most had no idea Nobel was thinking on such a grand, altruistic scale.?
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