Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 13, 2017

In the 1830s, Scottish poet Thomas Carlyle authored a novel, Sartor Resartus (The Tailor Re-Tailored), in which one character expounds on the virtues of silence: Sprecfien ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden. Translation: Speech is silvern but silence is golden.

One could argue that, generally speaking, Jews are not the silent type. Many Jews like to kibitz and schmooze and, for some, small talk is their only form of exercise. (For such folks, doing a squat means sitting down and having a chat.) A few individuals, sometimes lovingly referred to as Yentas, gossip so incessantly that its like theyre being paid by the rumor. Of course, schmoozing can be a very valuable tool for discovering critical information like (i) mitzvah opportunities in your area, (ii) matchmaking candidates in your town and (iii) secret ingredients in your neighbors competition-level cholent. Of course, not all Jews excel at gabbing, just like not all Jews excel at hora dancing, shofar blowing or sukkah building. Some Jews are less loquacious than others and taciturn Jews typically excel in other aspects of Jewish life, like the silent Amidah.

There are certain instances, however, when even the most garrulous Jews embrace, or at least accept, silence. So, the question is: in the Jewish world, when is silence golden?

For the record, Jewish law is not silent on silence. The Talmud, at Megillah 18a, states: A word is worth a sela [coin], but silence is worth two. Other Jewish texts also extol the virtues of silence. In Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), Section 1:17, the following is noted: I have found nothing better for the body than silence. Later in Pirkei Avot, in Section 3:17, it is written: Rabbi Akiva said... a protective fence for wisdom is silence.

In practical terms, silence can be an important asset in day-to-day interactions. For example, if you are playing hide-and-go-seek and its your turn to hide, silence is golden. If youre in the jungle and walking past a sleeping tiger, silence is golden. If your significant other asks How do I look? and they actually look awful, silence is golden. If a jeweler appraises your gold necklace for more than you thought it was worth, then, literally and figuratively, silence is golden.

There is at least one form of silence that occurs regularly in Jewish life. It occurs before a meal, right after the traditional washing of the hands but before the making of the Hamotzi (the blessing over bread). During this intermediate period, it is customary to remain perfectly silent. This practice is derived, in part, from a statement in the Talmud, at Brachot 52b, which states: Immediately after the washing is the meal. (See, Brachot 52b). Thus, Jews have developed the practice of remaining silent after washing to avoid any interruptions, disturbances or distractions before making the Hamotzi blessing and beginning the meal. Technically, the silence should not be broken until one has actually said the Hamotzi and consumed a piece of bread. All of this can lead to some uncomfortably quiet moments, especially during a meal on Shabbat involving numerous guests. The strange silence around the table can be particularly unsettling for the uninitiated who are not familiar with these pre-Hamotzi habits.

For those unaccustomed with pre-Hamotzi silence, perhaps the best way to explain it to them is through song. (Yes, teaching silence through song is oxymoronic and arguably just plain moronic.) So, lets change the lyrics of the most famous song ever about silence, namely, Simon & Garfunkels 1964 legendary hit, The Sound of Silence. Have this timeless tune in mind when singing the following:

Hello Shabbos, my old friend

Ive come to break bread with you again

All of our guests have now washed

their hands

Around the table is where they stand

But nobody, is saying a single word

They all concurred

With the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw

Ten silent guests, maybe more

People nodding without speaking

People shrugging without talking

People miming signs like they

were playing charades

Theyre so afraid

To disturb the sound of silence.

But the people pointed and stared

At the host who did not care

So his spouse flashed out

a stern warning

With a look that meant he was

so annoying

Her expression said: The words of the

Hamotzi are written in the

prayer book?

Dont be a schnook

Please end the sound of silence.

And so Hamotzi was quickly said

And the guests were quickly fed

The whole meal went off without a hitch

Notwithstanding the pre-Hamotzi glitch

As the guests departed, so did all

of the noise

Now the hosts enjoyed

The peaceful sound of silence.

Bottom-line: If silence is golden and speech is silvern, does that mean that yodeling is bronzen?

By Jon Kranz

Read more:

Kosher Quiet - Jewish Link of New Jersey

Category: Talmud
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