{"id":60141,"date":"2021-03-12T16:09:47","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T22:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=60141"},"modified":"2021-03-12T16:09:47","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T22:09:47","slug":"off-the-pulpit-stand-on-your-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-stand-on-your-feet\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: Stand on your feet"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

In our daily and sabbath prayers we do bow, but nonetheless stand up straight when saying God\u2019s name. In reciting the Amidah, the central prayer of the service, the Shuchan Aruch instructs us not to lean on anything, but to stand before God (O.H. 94:8).<\/p>\n

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In the first chapter of the book of Ezekiel, we read of a wild, corybantic vision. In the culmination of the vision Ezekiel hears God\u2019s voice and falls down on the ground.<\/p>\n

The first words God speaks to Ezekiel are as follows: \u201cSon of man, stand on your feet that I may speak to you (2:1).\u201d Not until Ezekiel rises to his full height and is able to confront God with strength and presence, will God speak to the prophet. The lesson of being before God is the lesson of life \u2013 learn to stand on your own two feet.<\/p>\n

(Rabbi David Wolpe is the senior rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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