The Still, Small Voice and the Virality Machine

When I joined Facebook 21 years ago, I couldn’t imagine its “free of charge forever” promise might commodify us. By mining our emotions and desires, social media profits by triggering our fears and cravings, keeping us distracted.

This “virality machine” has taken over modern media, shocking and stimulating us, pushing deeper into depravity to grab our attention. But it’s not new. The Torah offers a richer alternative: not to shock and captivate, but to nurture, support, and sustain tradition.

Some completely disconnect from media, but most of us need walls of protection. Torah is that wall. When Elijah stood at Mount Horeb (I Kings 19:12), Hashem wasn’t in the wind, earthquake, or fire—but in a still, small voice.

קול דממה דקה—“A still, small voice”

Even before social media, chaos distracted us from quiet truth. Great teachers and learners have always chosen humility, following Hashem’s example. As Rabbi Yochanan says in Megillah 31a, wherever Torah speaks of Hashem’s greatness, it also mentions His humility.

This is true for Torah scholars too. They may leave no biological heirs, but their students are like children. As Rashi explains in Parashat Bamidbar (Numbers 3:1), Aaron’s sons are called Moses’ children because he taught them Torah—“whoever teaches Torah to another’s child, it is as if he fathered them” (Sanhedrin 19b).

Rabbi Yaakov Hillel tells how the Chazon Ish wore his bar mitzvah hat and coat for life, a sign of humility. He also tells a story about the Chofetz Chaim. A couple, childless for years, sought his blessing. He quietly told them to visit a local rabbi—without mentioning his name. Months later, they had a child, then more. Twenty years on, they shared this “segulah” with another couple, but nothing happened. When the husband returned to the Chofetz Chaim, the elderly sage burst into tears. His students explained: “Twenty years ago, he fasted and said Psalms for forty days for your wife’s pregnancy.”

The Chofetz Chaim wept, I imagine, because revealing the secret gave false hope. But it also shows his profound humility: he knew humility itself was key to the miracle’s power.

May we learn from Hashem’s humility, so to speak, and may it hasten Moshiach’s coming and bring peace to the world—speedily in our days.