Susan Landau-Chark - Concordia University

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delivering a meal, but also the passing on of what is important in the tradition --
providing that spiritual hospitality which Rabbi Lefell defined as friendliness, openmindedness
and worshipfulness. 45 To do anything less was to undermine one’s standing
as a Jew. 46
Rabbi Lefell re-iterated a similar theme in his sermon of October 22, 1956 when
he examined in more detail the concept of “derekh eretz” and its place in Judaism. 47 At all
times Rabbi Leffell was seeking to create a community marked by acts of kindness, acts
that illustrated respect and concern: acts, and not words.
For Rabbi Leffell, the phrase “derekh eretz” was used by the rabbis to
demonstrate how Abraham epitomized the “principles of proper conduct”. 48 Abraham’s
behaviour towards his three guests in the book of Genesis was considered to be an act of
“derekh eretz”, defined as “etiquette, good manners, good breeding, courtesy, and
politeness”. 49 In this sermon, Rabbi Leffell took time to reinforce the notion that these
acts that seemed so simple were “not normally seen as part of religion or an aspect of
religion”. 50 With today’s busy lifestyle, there seemed to be less room for what he called
the “niceties” of life. 51 Rabbi Leffell also noted that “the Talmud contain[ed] within it
enough principles of etiquette to compile a book that could rival Emily Post or Amy
Vanderbilt”. 52 He set out very clearly those behaviours that constitute “derekh eretz” for
the Shaare Zedek congregation: 1) when speaking to a person, unless they were a parent
45
Ibid. 5.
46
Rabbi A. B. Leffell, “Vayera.” (October 28, 1961).
47
Rabbi A. B. Leffell, “Vayera.” (October 20, 1956).
48
Ibid. 3.
49
Ibid. 3.
50
Ibid. 5.
51
Ibid. 5.
52
Ibid. 6.