Blog

I recall sitting with Florence Nathanson, of blessed memory, years ago after a Torah study. Florence was a member of Sinai, a regular at Torah study, and her comments were often among the more thoughtful week after week. And the week that I am recalling was no exception.

I had just finished teaching Torah study on the Priestly Blessing, words that we read in our portion this week. My Torah study had been a comparative study, liking the words of this ancient text found in Numbers 6:22-27 (“May God bless you and keep you. May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God lift your face and grant you peace.”) to other words of blessing found throughout the ancient Near East. After the session, as I was walking to lead services, Florence pulled me aside. “Rabbi,” she said, in her New York accent.” And then she hit me with it:

             Is it more important to recite a blessing or to be a blessing?

I asked her if I could take some time to reflect upon her question, and she agreed.

On the one hand, the recitation of liturgy is of incredible importance. After all, it is the liturgy of Jewish tradition that has bound us together as a people across the years and throughout the world. It is the words of prayer that our ancestors chose to die for rather than desecrate. Without recitation each week, these words would fall by the wayside, forgotten as would, I fear, be the Jewish people. And so, yes, the recitation is important. And it is important for us to do week after week, and to pass on to the next generation.

And yet.

Of course, the actions we undertake are more important than the words that we utter. Our words alone do not feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or give homes to the homeless. Our words may comfort those in need of solace, but it is our actions that move the mountains. Sure, words can complement our actions – they can even spur our actions. But legislation is only a piece of paper until policy is enacted, and words can inspire but only if they truly inspire others to act. And so our actions are more important than our words.

Understandably, and predictably, the idea is to marry the two: to wed our actions and our words. To speak acts of kindness into being, and to offer gratitude when others answer our prayers. On this Shabbat, may the gulf be small between our loftiest ideals, our most beautiful words of promise, and the reality we lend our hands to create. For in an era where both words of blessing and being a blessing are important… why choose?

Shabbat Shalom.