What does it mean to leave a legacy?

The dictionary defines “legacy” first as a gift of money or property that is part of a bequest.

There is also a second definition that describes the intangible gifts we leave behind. These gifts are informed by values, words, and actions that we undertake and share with others in our lives.

You don’t need money to leave that kind of legacy.

Second Chances

In the Jewish calendar, the first day of the seventh month is Rosh Hashanah, the start of the new year. The holiday is also called Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Remembrance. We ask God to remember our good deeds and overlook our shortcomings. Tradition says that on Rosh Hashanah we are written in the Book of Life — an infinitely consequential version of the “permanent record” in high school. That record is sealed ten days later on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we have the opportunity to correct and repent of our mistakes in the past year. We do our best to make amends to anyone we may have hurt and ask for forgiveness. Then, we pray to “avert the severe decree” of an untimely death in the year to come.

That’s when we petition God for a second chance. A do-over. A mulligan.

What We Leave Behind

I may wish to be remembered in a particular way, but first I need to do the work to merit that legacy.

Physical features capture our attention but they are not meaningful. I’ve been blessed with a full head of famously curly hair. There was a time when I thought my hair was important to my sense of self. Then I lost it all and discovered that I was still the same person. Lesson learned.

The same goes for money. At different times in my life, I’ve had just enough money, or I’ve had more than enough. At times I’ve had none at all. I’m still me.

Professional and academic achievements can have a more consequential impact. Some people can claim credit for important discoveries, inventions, or artistic works. I have some small accomplishments but none of them will earn me a mention in any history book, literary anthology, or even a Wikipedia page. I’m learning to live with that. I can still make a difference.

Remember Me for Good

Creating a legacy is the work of a lifetime. It’s an intentional, purposeful pursuit. We choose how to spend our time and resources, and we will be remembered for those choices and their outcomes.

This is what I choose.

Appreciation. I’m keenly aware of the many blessings that fuel my existence. I was born to loving parents who were devoted to each other and to their children. I’ve had the privilege of an excellent education, of earning a living, of marrying a good man, and of bearing and raising a healthy child to adulthood. I wake up every morning and thank God for another day of life.

Support. I want to be known as the person you can call any time and find a willing ear and a helping hand. I visit the sick and the bereaved. I run errands. I bring food. I sit and listen. But I’ve missed many opportunities to help people in need or to simply show up. I can do better.

Mitzvot. Jews are the Chosen People because we accepted the God-given assignment to fulfill a to-do list of 613 sacred obligations, or mitzvot in Hebrew. It’s not possible to complete all of these ancient tasks today, if only because some would require access to the Temple in Jerusalem. That edifice was destroyed 2,000 years ago, and while Jews pray daily for it to be rebuilt, that construction project is broadly understood to be reserved for the Messianic Age.

We still have many opportunities to perform mitzvot. It typically costs money to give tzedakah — which is translated as “charity” but is derived from the word “tzedek,” which means “justice” or “righteousness.” Providing for others is not mere generosity, and it’s not optional.. It’s a sacred obligation.

Some mitzvot cost no money at all to perform. These include simple acts of kindness that are easily achievable. Do you feed your pet before you eat your own meal? That’s a mitzvah.

Other mitzvot can be challenging, especially for someone who did not grow up in a traditionally observant home. It may seem daunting to keep kosher or observe the Sabbath. There are many rules, but it’s possible to adopt them gradually.

One mitzvah leads to another. Step by step, mitzvah by mitzvah, a legacy grows.