The Original Rabbi Stephen Wise - Lessons on the Art of Public Speaking

The art of speaking

Rabbi Stephen Wise – March 15 2014 – 13 Adar 2

On March 17, 1874 a young Stephen Wise was born in Budapest, Hungary, delightfully coinciding with St. Patricks Day.  His father Aaron Weisz was a Rabbi, as was his grandfather Joseph Weisz, famed for his legendary gifts of prophecy, orthodox piety and political liberalism.  This was the legacy that seemed to transfer down through the generations and imbedded itself in the future Rabbi Stephen Wise, having his named changed to the simpler spelling upon the family’s arrival in American in 1875, a year after his birth.  Stephen’s father Aaron served as Rabbi of Temple Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and this certainly inspired young Stephen to follow in the family footsteps, because from his earliest youth he was determined to find a career in the ministry. 

As this is the week that celebrates the birthdays of both Stephen S. Wise from March 1874 and Stephen A. Wise, the current rabbi born in March 1974, I wanted to take a look at some of the things that made the original Rabbi Wise such a unique leader, specifically his speaking eloquence and passion for social justice.  I believe there is a lot we can learn from his life and his advice that speaks to use today.

In reading further into his background and personal letters, I believe what made Rabbi Stephen S. Wise stand out was his art of public speaking.  At the height of his influence as Rabbi of the Stephen Wise Free synagogue in NYC that he founded, his sermons were so popular they were often delivered at Carnegie Hall and would be carried live on radio for the whole country to hear.  At the height of his popularity, letters addressed to “the rabbi” would arrive at his door. 

Stephen Wise devotes one chapter of his autobiography to the Art of Speaking.  He gives three pointers:  1. Have something to say.  2. Believe in what you are going to say.  3. Say it clearly and without fear. 

The first one reminds us that before you know how to say something properly, you need to have message you want to communicate.  And where will you find what you want to say; at home, or from school/university.  From reading books and newspapers, even online news sources.  Wise says don’t read just to find quotations, but rather to get more information and to make you think.  Wise said, “I attach great importance to reading…for the sake of self-enrichment” (p.121).  Wise then recommends, once you have something to say, begin and when you finished, stop.  This is important, to not linger at either end but say your piece and be done. 

In regards to the second point, nothing is as important in public speaking as to believe in what you want to say.  This might seem simple, but be sure to think about what you are saying and how to say it, but deep down you had surely be passionate about the subject and that you personally believe in the point you are making.  If you talk about belief in God, you need to believe in God, its not enough to simply bring information for others.  As Wise wrote, “Often among listeners they might be saying to themselves, “did he mean that?”  “Is he sincere?”.  If doubts arise, the speaker is lost.  Noise and vehemence, far from proving and achieving sincerity, are ordinarily accepted as disproof thereof”. (p.122)

Finally making his third point, Wise says, to speak without fear.  Be yourself and don’t imitate anyone else.  Wise often came across people trying to imitate him and would warn them, “one if me is quite enough, perhaps too many.  Be yourself”. 

There is a great Talmudic story about being yourself,  that perhaps Rabbi Wise drew upon when he gave this advice.

Once there was a rabbi named Zusya who loved God with all his heart and soul, and who treated all God’s creatures with respect and kindness. Rabbi Zusya studied Torah, kept Shabbat, visited the sick, and praised God for all the goodness in the world. Though he was not a rich man, Zusya gave generously to those in need. Students came from far and near, hoping to learn from this gentle and wise rabbi. Zusya often told his students, “Listen to the still, small voice inside you. Your neshamah will tell you how you must live and what you must do.”

Each day Rabbi Zusya”s students came to the House of Study, called the Bet Midrash, eager to learn what they could from him. One day, Zusya did not appear at the usual hour. His students waited all morning and through the afternoon. But Zusya did not come. By evening his students realized that something terrible must have happened. So they all rushed to Zusya’s house. The students knocked on the door. No one answered. They knocked more loudly and peered through the frost-covered windows. Finally, they heard a weak voice say, “Shalom aleichem, peace be with you. Come in.” The students entered Rabbi Zusya’s house. In the far corner of the room they saw the old rabbi lying huddled in bed, too ill to get up and greet them.

“Rabbi Zusya!” his students cried. “What has happened? How can we help you?”

“There is nothing you can do,” answered Zusya.  “I’m dying and I am very frightened.”

“Why are you afraid?” the youngest student asked. “Didn’t you teach us that all living things die?”

“Of course, every living thing must die some day,” said the Rabbi. The young student tried to comfort Rabbi Zusya saying, “Then why are you afraid? You have led such a good life. You have believed in God with a faith as strong as Abraham’s. and you have followed the
commandments as carefully as Moses.”

“Thank you. But this is not why I am afraid,” explained the rabbi. “For if God should ask me why I did not act like Abraham, I can say that I was not Abraham. And if God asks me why I did not act like Rebecca or Moses, I can also say that I was not Moses.” Then the rabbi said, “But if God should ask me to account for the times when I did not act like Zusya, what shall I say then?” because I know that is what they will ask of me.

The students were silent, for they understood Zusya’s final lesson. To do your best is to be yourself, to hear and follow the still, small  voice of your own neshamah.

Now even if you have something to say, and believe in it without fear, but what if you really can’t say it well.  Some might say, “Rabbi Wise, but I have a poor voice”.  Rabbi Wise counselled them, better a poor voice with something to say than the oft fatal gift of mellifluousness.  A voice of honey is not substitute for the salt of thought. 

Perhaps the best example of a handicapped speaker was our greatest teacher of all, Moshe Rabbeinu.  He knew he was hard of speech and explained to God that he could not face Pharaoh alone and speak of behalf of the Jewish people.  He was scared, Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to him, the Jewish people wouldn’t listen to him.  But Moses went, with Aaron by his side, and learned to believe in what he spoke and trust in God.  Together these elements made Moses perhaps the greatest speaker ever as from that moment on, God’s words all came through Moses, the next three books of Torah are spoke by Moses.  He is considered our greatest teacher, from such humble beginnings, never to let his claim of difficult speech prevent him from leading the Jewish people to freedom. 

As Wise writes (p.123) anyone handicapped by an unpleasant or ineffective manner of speech can choose to make that handicap good by wide reading, deep study, clear thinking and brave speaking. To speak with a sense of respect for the subject, the audience and himself. 

Rabbi Wise writes that one of the most effective speakers he ever heard was the first president of the state of Israel, Chaim Weitzman.  His voice was often hoarse and throated and unpleasant to listen to.  He had no grace nor manner of speaking, spoke slowly and awkwardly.  Yet he would make his point deliberately, with scientific precision and sequence, always mastering his theme, rarely deflecting from his goals.  Through supports and hecklers he always made his point.  How?  He knows his case, he makes the best possible use of folk lore and folk manner, with nothing to commend him save his intellectual weight and his command of the cause. 

These lessons on the art of speaking might not seem so revolutionary or profound but they are lessons I take to heart each time I am preparing to speak in public.  Rabbi Stephen Wise was quite modest in writing this chapter, because many of his contemporaries would name him as the person to whom they would describe as giving the great speeches.  We still study his words at seminary today.  But Wise was also modest in avoiding giving advice about content.  Rabbi Wise is know for his willingness to speak out about subject that were often controversial, to his synagogue community, to him personally and to the Jewish community as a whole, but that never prevented him from speaking on them.  At one point in building his synagogue, he had a great amount of pledges towards a new building fund.  Many of the pledges came from wealthy members, who owned business, usually without unions.  At the same time Wise would stand at the pulpit and decry these sweatshops and demand worker rights and unions.  The individuals with wealth withdrew their money in protest, but Wise would not stand down, even as the fundraising plan collapsed.  He stood by his values.  Wise was also one of the first to follow in the steps of Theodore Herzl calling for a Jewish homeland in Israel.  This again went against the grain as most rabbinic leaders in America were hesitant to support a Jewish homeland, when life for Jews in American was prosperous and full of freedom and opportunity.  Why would they jeopardize their position by actively calling for Jews to leave and form this new homeland.  Wise was not fearful of a backlash against him personally or the community at large and continued to push for Zionism, even forming the first American Jewish Zionist organization.  Wise was also quick to fight for Jews who were suffering through the Holocaust.  He was able to get information to the President about the Jewish plight.  There are many who felt Wise did not do enough or put lives in danger, but Wise stood by his beliefs to do what he could.  I even have a copy of the telegram sent to his attention that he passed on to President Roosevelt.

There is much to learn from Rabbi Wise, from his advice on the art of speaking to his ability to put his money where his mouth is and speak truth to power.  Wise had great oratorical skills and used them to express strong opinions on the controversial topics of his age.  I am very honoured to carry on his name and take his advice in speaking passionately and without fear about modern issues today.  May we all have that courage and strength to speak to what we believe in with passion and excellence.  Shabbat Shalom.