Over 4.9 million people have viewed Rob Anderson’s magic act in which he tears up a homeless man’s sign, only to put it back together with an extra surprise which he then gives to the gentleman. In a world of what often feels like endless competition for clicks and views, it’s easy to confuse success with making a difference. Sometimes though, virtual virality – nothing to sneeze at – opens the door to real world change.
Why this is so engaging to so many people is something we could debate and analyze all day. Perhaps it reminds us that we can all bring a smile to a stranger’s face, if we take the time to do so. Perhaps it allows us to feel good about the homeless being helped, without actually doing anything ourselves. Perhaps the video works, because it connects to the truth that it is always magical when you help another human being. My guess, is that it is a bit of all three. But whatever it is that made this video go viral, the story doesn’t end there.
…One thing is for sure – when we help others, we not only transform their lives, but our own as well.
This week, Rob Anderson is upping his act – taking it from popular street performance, to life changing activism. Having gotten to know Alan McCracken, Anderson has started a campaign to move beyond putting a smile on the homeless veteran’s face, to helping put him back on his feet.
Who knows what’s next, either for Anderson or for McCracken, but one thing is for sure – when we help others, we not only transform their lives, but our own as well. Just ask a street performer who has become a philanthrapist. Now THAT’S a cool magic trick – And it’s one we can all do!
Listed for many years in Newsweek as one of America’s “50 Most Influential Rabbis” and recognized as one of our nation’s leading “Preachers and Teachers,” by Beliefnet.com, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield serves as the President of Clal–The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a training institute, think tank, and resource center nurturing religious and intellectual pluralism within the Jewish community, and the wider world, preparing people to meet the biggest challenges we face in our increasingly polarized world.
An ordained Orthodox rabbi who studied for his PhD and taught at The Jewish Theological Seminary, he has also taught the University of Pennsylvania, where he directs an ongoing seminar, and American Jewish University. Rabbi Brad regularly teaches and consults for the US Army and United States Department of Defense, religious organizations — Jewish and Christian — including United Seminary (Methodist), Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (Modern Orthodox) Luther Seminary (Lutheran), and The Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative) — civic organizations including No Labels, Odyssey Impact, and The Aspen Institute, numerous Jewish Federations, and a variety of communal and family foundations.
Hirschfield is the author and editor of numerous books, including You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism, writes a column for Religion News Service, and appears regularly on TV and radio in outlets ranging from The Washington Post to Fox News Channel. He is also the founder of the Stand and See Fellowship, which brings hundreds of Christian religious leaders to Israel, preparing them to address the increasing polarization around Middle East issues — and really all currently polarizing issues at home and abroad — with six words, “It’s more complicated than we know.”