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January 1, 2006

Prep for 2006 Israel YU Talks (2006)

Ki Tissa The Rabbinate
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Drush Seminars for Kollel Elyon Fellows (2000)

I. Attitude: Remember: sermons are just another form of הרבצת התורה. Take them seriously. But: difference in style/content between sermon/lecture/shiur, etc. An art form. Aim to inform and inspire, not to impress. Never come across as arrogant/superior/paternalistic/overly self-assured. מוסר – sparingly. Use "we," not "you" or "I." Don't glower at them while you speak. A smile helps lubricate your message. Some humor is OK, but not belly-laughs or cynicism. Should be witty, more cerebral. In a word: respect your audience. Always be prepared; run scared: butterflies, אימתא דציבורא. II. Content: Must have a central idea. Listeners should "go home with something." Must contain דברי תורה – not just secular ideas, your own biases. דברי תורה should not be simplistic, but also not too recondite – or too fanciful (as: extreme Hasidic). Keep away from elaborate גמטריא. Puns – sparingly. A שיעור בהלכה is not a דרשה. Keep it for another venue. 5er/no? 7 → inspire. Sermon certainly not book review/summary/NYTimes op-ed. Develop your own style – eventually. Meanwhile, imitate good stuff – is like trying on a suit before buying it. (Same will be true for "Delivery" – later.) Above all: organize your thoughts in logical sequence. Sermon must have beginning/middle/end. Beginning: if you are a guest, thank introducer/acknowledge Rav/dignitaries. If regular, own pulpit – never begin with שבת שלום, "Friends," etc. Forgo lengthy & superfluous introductions. Don't tell how you came to write this sermon. Just give it. Joseph Lookstein: come in pitching. Lamm's 90-second rule. Length: 12–15–18–20 minutes. High Holidays – a bit more than usual. Concluding: taper off. Don't just sit down abruptly; מסיים בנחמה. Middle: this is it! Vary content intensity – don't always shout/whisper/drone on. Content ~ voice. Look for opportunity for drama – without histrionics. Transitions. Make sure central message is understood. Since sermon = oral, need repetition – but beware of overdoing. Preparati…
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How to be a Rabbinic Baalebus (2005)

Ten Commandments – some of which apply to all laymen, and some specifically to non-functioning Rabbis: 1. Respect your Rabbi’s authority. There is a decided difference between your היתר הוראה and his status as מורה הוראה; it is akin to the difference between taking out a marriage license and being married. He, not you, has the obligation and the authority to pasken. He is your רב, and neither your סברא nor your לימוד nor your appeal to higher authority (such as your Rosh Yeshiva) will outweigh his authority. Respect it – and him! The fact that you have המי כהן is no excuse to be מבטל מצות צדקה. That is especially so if you become an officer or otherwise attain prominence in the shul. You may be the shul president – yes, but how shall you behave? From מי שטר ארץ עד מי שטר גארג'י שטר אמערץ – מצוות מא תעשה. Don’t act disrespectfully towards your Rabbi. For instance, don’t walk out – especially not demonstratively – when he begins his דרשה. And don’t, please don’t, look into a מפרש while he’s speaking. It’s not only discourteous – it’s also arrogant. Always try to improve his financial status and security. Rabbis – unlike businessmen or other professionals – are always shy about discussing money with their congregants. So, do it for him. And if he’s making more than you are – so what? Who’s to say that his labors are worth less than yours? Remember what חז"ל said
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Chag Hasemicha Convocation, Sunday March, 10, 2002

Rabbi Lamm delivers a sermon at the Chag Hasemicha Convocation.
The Rabbinate