{"id":40943,"date":"2018-01-26T17:23:36","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T23:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=40943"},"modified":"2018-06-02T04:50:58","modified_gmt":"2018-06-02T10:50:58","slug":"say-little-do-much-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/say-little-do-much-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Say Little, Do Much: Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Holy One desires the heart,\u201d the Rabbis say (Sanhedrin<\/em> 106B). They define prayer as the \u201cService of the Heart\u201d (Ta\u2019anit<\/em> 2A). Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther somewhat idiosyncratically echoed this principle: \u201cFaith is under the left nipple.\u201d In our relationships to God, our inner life matters a great deal: our faith, our beliefs, our hopes.<\/p>\n

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With notable exceptions, it represents a defining principle of normative Jewish Law and practice. We may love a spouse deeply, but we must demonstrate that heartfelt commitment through faithful, loving, supportive, compassionate, daily conduct. Honoring parents (living or departed) is about worthy behavior, not the inchoate sentiments or nostalgia that reside within us. Love of country (or of \u201cthy neighbor\u201d or \u201cthe stranger\u201d) requires concrete expression to be meaningful.<\/p>\n

Devarim she-ba-lev einam devarim<\/em> \u2013 \u201cThings that remain in the heart \u2013 neither articulated nor translated into consequential deeds \u2013 ultimately amount to nothing.\u201d The Holy One desires the heart. Jewish morality \u2013 and theology \u2013 demand meaningful action.<\/p>\n

(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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