{"id":67741,"date":"2022-05-20T16:23:25","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T21:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=67741"},"modified":"2022-05-20T16:23:25","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T21:23:25","slug":"off-the-pulpit-your-own-two-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/off-the-pulpit-your-own-two-feet\/","title":{"rendered":"Off the Pulpit: Your own two feet"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI DAVID WOLPE<\/p>\n

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What is striking about those lines from the renowned medieval poem “Beowulf” is how they embody the idea that God helps Beowulf once the warrior struggles to his feet. Beowulf must initiate his own salvation. God responds to human self-assertion.<\/p>\n

That same idea is beautifully expressed one thousand years before in God\u2019s message to the prophet Ezekiel. When in the beginning of the book (2:1) Ezekiel begins to prophecy, God says to him: \u201cSon of man, stand on your feet that I may speak to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Ezekiel to prophesize, he must rise to his full height as a man.<\/p>\n

Deep faith always involves an element of submission — rampant egos block relationship. But it does not demand dissolution of the self. One can stand strong without arrogance and bow without being broken.<\/p>\n

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

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