By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — When I was growing up I knew a rabbi who was a wonderful speaker. He spoke eloquently and melodiously and had a vocabulary that was the envy of Merriam-Webster. People flocked from near and far to hear him. There was only one problem: no one knew what he was saying. His vocabulary and intellectual complexity were beyond most people’s grasps.
People would say to me: isn’t Rabbi “X” a wonderful speaker. I would say, “Yes, he is. But what did he say?” They would answer, “I don’t know, but he said it so well!
I am reminded of this story every time I hear a politician or diplomat speak. Most have the special gift of speaking beautifully while saying nothing. I am especially frustrated by government or organization spokespersons who agree to answer questions which they then eloquently avoid answering.
Although the biblical Moses had many talents, public speaking was not one of them. When God told Moses to tell King Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” Moses protested. He said to God: “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, a man of impeded speech!” (Ex. 6:12)
The midrash teaches that when Pharaoh’s daughter brought Moses to the palace as a baby, Pharaoh suspected he was an Israelite. He placed a bowl of hot coals and a bowl of jewels in front of baby Moses to see which he would choose. When Moses naturally began reaching toward the shiny jewels, an angel pushed his hand toward the coals. When Moses put his hot hand into his mouth he burned his tongue as well, and this impeded his speech.
The commentator Ha-Ran wonders why this had to be so. After all, since God had blessed Moses with intellect, curiosity, and charisma, why didn’t God cure Moses’ speech impediment so that he could also be an excellent orator?
Ha-Ran answers that God did not want the people to follow Moses because of his oration. God wanted people to follow Moses because of his message. Too often a silver tongue is used to confuse and deceive the listener. God wanted the people to concentrate on what Moses was saying, rather than how he was saying it.
People are often fooled into equating eloquence with intelligence. They believe that the medium is more important than the message. It’s not what you say, but how you say it.
Ha-Ran reminds us that while charismatic speakers may be convincing, we need to concentrate on what they are saying before we choose to believe or follow them.
*
Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. Your comment may be placed in the space provided below or sent directly to the author at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com