{"id":66266,"date":"2022-03-04T13:18:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T18:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=66266"},"modified":"2022-03-04T13:18:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T18:18:08","slug":"off-the-pulpit-windows-to-the-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-windows-to-the-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: Windows to the Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

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The Talmud may also be making the reverse point: not that we look out, but that others must look in. To see someone lift a heart to God can be itself heartening. Knowing devotion exists can kindle our own devotion. Although we cannot be sure what goes on in another\u2019s heart (as Queen Elizabeth famously commented in her declaration of religious tolerance, \u201cI seek not to carve windows into men\u2019s souls\u201d) we can watch others pray and be inspired.<\/p>\n

The Baal Shem Tov taught, when you see someone sway in prayer, do not think it strange. Compare it to a man passing by a glass house where inside people are dancing. Since he cannot hear the music, he sees only the strange rhythms. The music may be playing even if we can\u2019t hear it. How do we know? That\u2019s why we have windows.<\/p>\n

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

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