Deeds and Actions

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

Each year, during the summer, I begin to think about the High Holidays that follow in the fall. Somehow my year is centered on holidays and not everyday happenings. During each celebration I begin to concentrate on the next holiday and then before I realize it the year has passed.

This year is no exception. Summer is here and my efforts are devoted to preparing for the ultimate season – the season of introspection and renewal – the High Holidays.

I am reminded of a story about the Ba’al Shem Tov and how one day during class he dwelt on the subject of preaching, emphasizing that an effective rabbi is one who delivers sermons in which lessons will be learned and life’s meaning revealed.

After the class, the Great Sage approached one of his students and extended and invitation to him to accompany the rabbi as he traveled and preached. The student was overjoyed. To preach with the Master – how wonderful! What an opportunity!

They set out on their journey, and along the way, the rabbi stopped at the home of a widow. The rabbi and his student chopped wood for the elderly woman and took care of her livestock. As they left the grateful woman, the student asked his rabbi why he had not preached to her? The Ba’al Shem Tov told his student not to worry.

Continuing on, they stopped in a village to visit another congregant. They found the person lying in bed, sick, unable to fend for himself. Again the rabbi and his student did chores. They prepared food for the ailing man and even fed him. And again, as they left, the student asked why his rabbi had not preached? And again, the Ba’al Shem Tov assured his student that there was no cause for concern.

At the end of a full day, after the good rabbi and his student had tended to many others in need, the frustration was even more prominent. Again the student questioned why there had been no preaching? Finally, the Ba’al Shem Tov gently admonished, “What do you think we have been doing all day?”

This story illustrates the thoughts that run through my mind each year at this time. The deeds, not the words really matter. The magic of good deeds and the value of actions far outweigh any words that may be spoken. And yet we cannot be expected to perform these acts of loving-kindness if we are not prodded by words. So if words lead to action then preaching is important.

That is precisely what the High Holiday season is designed to accomplish. We are steered through a process that enables us to understand the meaning of the words. We are encouraged to participate in an effort that can and should lead to personal satisfaction. We are elevated to a level of sanctification unimaginable because we can reach such a place. We are able to make holiness a reality because of our desire to be good and noble. We can concentrate on feeling good about ourselves because we are good and this time allows us to say so. We can do all these things and more because collectively we gather our thoughts and express them aloud in prayer and meditation.

We start with Selichot – a time set aside to begin the process of self-examination. We travel to Rosh Hashanah – a time to search our inner being; to bring to the surface those attributes which allow us a moment of blessing. We move to Yom Kippur – a time to sort the past from the present as we prepare for the future. And we listen to the sound of Shofar – the piercing sound of a call to action. And we are cleansed and know that we have been successful in our quest for acceptance.

But the day after is the most important part of this season: Understanding what was said through prayer and supplication. Expressions that need to be translated into deeds and actions. Charity needs to be dispensed. Participation in worthwhile endeavors. Reunion of family. Forgiveness of ill spoken words. Remembering milestone celebrations. Simple expression of love. All these things can bring us the salvation we search for during this period and beyond.

Perhaps it is too much to expect of ourselves. Perhaps we are not capable of accomplishing all these things. Not to worry. There is always tomorrow. And that is what this time allows us: The opportunity to be what we think we should be and then to keep trying even when our failings remind us of our fallibility.

Yes, the summer is here. The season of our elevation to impossible heights is around the corner. Now is the time to think about deeds and actions.