I grew up as one of two non-Catholic families in a very Catholic area. Our neighbors had first-born sons who were priests and daughters who were nuns. Phrases such as “my son the Father” and “my daughter the Sister” were bandied about regularly.
Likewise, the phrase, “It’s easy, once you get into the habit” was an often heard pun among our neighbors.
Recently, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 until his retirement in 2013, pointed out the rabbinic roots of such “habits.”
Rabbi Sacks noted that the Hebrew word for worship, avodah, is also the word for diligent work – both imply serving God. What applies in the arts, sciences, business and industry applies equally to the life of the spirit.
To make his point Rabbi Sacks explains a very interesting passage in which four rabbis were discussing the greatest principle of the Torah.
Said Ben Azzai, “It is the verse that says this is the book of the chronicles of man, on the day that God created man in His likeness.”
Said Ben Zoma, “Listen, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”
Said Ben Nannas, “ Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Said Ben Pazzi, “One sheep shall be offered in the morning and a second one in the afternoon.”
Which one do you, the reader, think is most important? The Rabbinic Four decided that it was Ben Pazzi. All the high ideals in the world – the human in God’s image, belief in God’s unity, the love of neighbor – count for little until they are turned into habits of actions, into patterns of behavior – until we get into the habit.
Tonight, we will discuss this in Confirmation Class. Let’s see what our children think.
B’Shalom
Rabbi Stanley Halpern