{"id":61550,"date":"2021-05-28T15:03:59","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T21:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=61550"},"modified":"2021-05-28T15:03:59","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T21:03:59","slug":"off-the-pulpit-the-trap-of-acclaim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-the-trap-of-acclaim\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: The trap of acclaim"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

The Athenian general Phocion was considered the wisest politician of his day, although he often opposed the prevailing consensus. Once, when his speech was interrupted by enthusiastic cheering, he paused: \u201cHave I inadvertently said something stupid?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Perhaps that is why Moses calls heaven and earth to witness his final words (Deut.<\/em> 32:1). They are not platitudes to whip the passions of the crowd; they are not appeals to anger, resentment, revenge or empty pride. Moses spoke not to the mania of the moment but the ages. If our utterances, in public or on social media, were less sensational and more soulful, perhaps they too would be worthy of being remembered.<\/p>\n

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

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