“Rabbi” has become a title that gets tossed around a lot. Maybe too much.
Mobsters have their own brand of rabbi. Workers with connections in management claim to have a “rabbi” in high places.
One of the nicknames of my friend John, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is “Rabbi.”
But sometimes, “rabbi” actually refers to a Jewish rabbi. And in recent years, I’ve become a fan and follower of three rabbis in particular. I find their words to be grounded and wise. I turn to them often for perspective.
So, with the holy day Rosh Hashanah on the horizon, let me introduce you to “My Three Rabbis.”
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972)
In an odd moment of interfaith serendipity, Father Charles at the Huntsville Catholic monastery introduced me — a Mormon — to the writings of the Jewish moralist Abraham Heschel. Originally from Poland, Heschel immigrated to the United States and began a movement that would become known as “radical amazement.”
Heschel championed social justice. When he marched with Martin Luther King Jr., he said he felt as if his legs were praying.
He wrote several books, including “God in Search of Man” and “The Sabbath.” He was probably best known for the quote “The opposite of good isn’t evil; it’s indifference,” but my own favorite Heschel observation is this one:
“When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire people who are kind.”
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (1902 -1994)
For many years, it was a common feeling among many Jews that Rabbi Schneerson (known as The Rebbe) was every bit as wise as Solomon. But toward the end of his life, a whispering campaign began that spoke of him in hushed tones as the long-awaited Messiah.
Whatever else he may have been, Rabbi Schneerson was probably the most influential rabbi in the past hundred years.
For me, he was the essence of simplicity and depth — a crystal-clear well you could peer into for fathoms. He could be wonderfully whimsical (as a writer, he thought the term “deadline” was too harsh, so he always said “due date”), but he could also be cosmic. He once said:
“We have been conditioned to see the passing of time as an adversary.”
Rabbi Harold Kushner (born in 1935)
I met Rabbi Kushner many years ago when he was in Salt Lake City to talk about his new book “Who Needs God.” (He left the question mark off on purpose.) I recorded our conversation that day and have returned to it several times. In fact, he had so much to offer that I’ve wrung several columns from that one 20-minute discussion.
Kushner has returned to Utah several times since. If he comes again, you won’t regret going to hear him. I've always liked this thought:
“The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and share.”
Email: jerjohn@deseretnews.com