Long Sermons: Good for the Soul, Dangerous for the Kiddush!
The Long and Short of the Rabbi’s Sermon
The Pros and Cons of a Rabbi Who Has a Lot to Say
There is an old synagogue joke: A congregant approaches the rabbi after services and says, “Rabbi, that was a wonderful sermon.” The rabbi smiles. “Thank you. What did you like most?” “The ending.”
The rabbi beams. “You found the conclusion inspiring?” “No,” says the congregant. “I was just happy you finally got there.”
Every rabbi knows that one of the great challenges of the rabbinate is deciding how long to speak. Too short, and people complain, “Rabbi, you barely said anything!” Too long, and they complain, “Rabbi, you said everything. Twice.” So, in the interest of fairness, let us examine the pros and cons of the long rabbinic sermon.
PRO: A Long Sermon Gives the Rabbi Time to Develop an Idea
Some Torah ideas cannot be reduced to a slogan. A rabbi may begin with the weekly parsha, move to a teaching of the Rebbe, quote the Talmud, tell a story about the Baal Shem Tov, add a joke, relate it to current life, offer three practical lessons and finally bring everything together. That takes time.
CON: By the time everything comes together, some congregants have forgotten what the parsha was.
One fellow once said, “Our rabbi’s sermons are like the Torah itself.” His friend asked, “You mean they’re holy?” No. I mean they seem to have no end.”
PRO: A Long Sermon Keeps People in Shul Longer
This is certainly spiritually beneficial. The longer the rabbi speaks, the longer people remain inside the synagogue.
CON: Their bodies remain in the synagogue. Their minds may already be at the kiddush.
There comes a moment during every long sermon when the aroma of kugel begins competing with the wisdom of Moses. And let us be realistic: Moses has a tremendous track record, but against a hot potato kugel, even Moshe Rabbeinu has competition.
PRO: A Long Sermon Can Reach Everyone. One person appreciates the Torah insight.
Another enjoys the story. Someone else likes the humor. One person is waiting for the practical message. And another is waiting for the rabbi to say, “In conclusion.” Actually, that last person may represent a substantial portion of the congregation.
CON: Rabbis Have a Very Flexible Definition of “In Conclusion”
When an ordinary person says, “In conclusion,” it means the conclusion is coming. When a rabbi says, “In conclusion,” it means we have entered the general vicinity of the conclusion. Then come the dangerous words: “Just one final thought.”
Followed by:
“This reminds me of a beautiful story.” And then: “Before I finish, there is one more important point.” At this stage, experienced congregants understand that “one final thought” is not a measurement of time. It is an expression of hope.
PRO: A Long Sermon Shows Preparation
The rabbi has studied, researched and thought carefully about what the congregation needs to hear. He wants to inspire people. He wants them to leave shul changed.
CON: Eventually, the congregation does change.
They change positions in their seats. First upright. Then leaning. Then shifting. Then checking the clock while pretending to study the dedication plaque on the opposite wall. A rabbi must understand synagogue body language. When one person looks at his watch, he wants to know the time. When five people look at their watches, the rabbi should know the time.
PRO: Sometimes the Best Part Comes at the End
A long sermon can build toward a powerful message. A story told earlier suddenly makes sense. The pieces connect. Something touches the heart. The congregant thinks, “Now I understand why the rabbi needed all that time.”
CON: This only works if the congregant is still awake when the pieces connect.
THE HIGH HOLIDAY EXCEPTION
Of course, the High Holidays present a special challenge. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, people expect the rabbi to say something meaningful.
They want inspiration. They want guidance. They want something that will help them begin a new year differently. And some people who have not been in shul since last Rosh Hashanah are thinking: “I haven’t heard the rabbi speak in twelve months. Let him speak!” Twenty minutes later, they remember why they waited twelve months.
THE RABBI’S SIDE OF THE STORY
In defense of rabbis everywhere, there is another side. A rabbi looks out at his congregation and sees people carrying real burdens.
Someone is worried about a child. Someone is struggling financially. Someone is grieving. Someone is searching for faith. Someone needs encouragement. Someone needs to hear that his or her life matters.
And the rabbi thinks: Maybe one more story will reach that person. Maybe one more Torah thought will give somebody strength. Maybe one more minute will touch a heart. That is why rabbis sometimes have trouble stopping. It is not always because we enjoy hearing ourselves speak. Well… not always.
SO HOW LONG SHOULD A SERMON BE?
There is an old saying that a sermon should be like a good meal: Long enough to satisfy you, but not so long that you regret coming. The real measurement of a sermon is not minutes. It is impact. A five-minute sermon that says nothing is too long. A thirty-minute sermon that changes someone’s life may feel short. The goal is not simply to speak longer. The goal is to leave something behind.
A thought. A smile. A challenge. A little more faith. A little more Jewish pride. A reason to become a little kinder, a little more patient and a little closer to Hashem. And perhaps that is the secret of the perfect rabbinic sermon: Speak until you have touched the heart — and then have the wisdom to sit down.
Because a good rabbi knows how to deliver a sermon. A great rabbi knows when to end one. And a truly extraordinary rabbi knows that when the congregation starts loudly closing their siddurim… that wasn’t thunder. It was a message from Heaven.
