Let Silence Speak

“All of my life I was privileged to be in the company of the wise people of Torah and I learned from them that nothing is more valuable to productive living than silence.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rabban Gamliel

                One of the hallmarks of modern life is constant noise: the construction across the street, the never-ending roar of traffic, the incessant ringing of the telephone, the radio and its constant programming - they all make for a great deal of a relentless racket that surrounds us.  And then there is the problem of never-ending conversation, the need for others (our children, friends, co-workers, parents, etc.) to express themselves to you constantly.  Quiet and silence have almost become extinct.  The rabbis and sages of the Talmud valued silence as a vital factor in life. The Talmud stated that a good word is worth one shekel but that silence itself is worth two. The holy men of Israel advanced the idea that penance for sin can be achieved not only by fasting from eating food but more beneficially by fasting from speaking – by silence and its mood inducing power of self-analysis and introspection.

                So while speech in Judaism is the ultimate gift from God and what separates us from other forms of life on this planet, it was given to us to be used sparingly and purposefully.  Among the many great and satisfying aspects of Shabbat is its silence.  Especially in our world of constant noise, the silence of Shabbat is refreshing and invigorating.  Freedom from the noises of telephones, radios, television sets, construction and traffic as well is a blessing to a noise-laden weary soul.  And it is in the silence of Shabbat that we can gain new insights into the words of the Torah that God, “so to speak” is found not in the noise generated by the wind or the sound of the mighty earthquake but rather “in a still, small, silent voice.”  Consider how difficult it is to make peace with adversaries.  How much harder then, if one cannot make peace with one’s self.  As long as there is an absence of an atmosphere of silence and quiet, making peace with one’s self is impossible.  Enter Sheket Shabbat, the Silent Sabbath.  This Saturday morning Congregation Micah will welcome in the quiet of the Shabbat by creating an atmosphere of serenity. Join us at 10:30 for a service followed by a day of quiet.  There will be opportunities to read, practice yoga, or engage in a variety of inaudible activities.