| |
To My Dear Students,
Our Torah Portion is titled "Emor," Hebrew for "Speak." Our tradition emphasizes the impact of what we say.
A thoughtful word from a teacher can inspire a student. A challenging word from a leader can summon a nation. A comforting word from a physician can offer hope to a patient.
How careful we must be in choosing our words because they can have incalculable consequences! They can bless when they soften grief and bolster confidence. They can hurt when they are cutting or cynical.
The harm we do to someone's body with a blow is clear and visible; the damage we do to someone's soul with a cruel remark is less easy to see, but the pain may be more permanent.
On a typical day, we open our mouths some 700 times to speak. How much of what we say is of worth? Would we have been better advised to maintain silence, to keep our words few? Do we wish we could retract some of the words spoken in haste, anger, defiance, or foolishness?
Words have sanctity and a power beyond our knowing. They are the bridges that bring us relationship or the walls that divide us from one another. Ecclesiastes wisely said: "Be not rash with your mouth and let your words be few."
Shabbat Shalom,
Your Rabbi |
