Jewish Wisdom on Humility and Openness

Reflections with Rabbi Rick Jacobs

In the first stanza of the first composition of the Guru Granth Sahib, the founder of Sikhi—Guru Nanak—begins with a question: How do we become the truth and break the wall of falsehood?

This is a profound question, one that is at the core of Sikh teaching and living. People have spent countless hours expounding on this question, exploring the answer, explaining what it means.

And at the same time, I’m struck by the fact that Guru Nanak begins with inquiry. It’s a fundamental question, absolutely, and one that deserves our attention. And it’s also a model for how we can approach our lives and one another. What would change if we began with curiosity?

The word Sikh means student, which is how I understand myself and how I try to live— as a lifelong learner. Humility and curiosity invite us into such a beautiful way of being.

These are not traits we see typically in our world today, no matter where people come from. But on the occasions when I meet people who live this way, I find myself drawn to them, wanting to be their friends.

Enter Rabbi Rick Jacobs, a man I’ve now known for more than a decade, and who I love being around. His thoughtfulness, his care, and his openness are so special, especially from a religious leader of his station. He’s the President of the Union for Reform Judaism, and yet, he’s down to earth, and fun to be around, and he’s so open-minded.

I wanted to ask him about how he came to live so openly, how it’s enriched his life, and how we might all develop these traits—especially in a time of deep mistrust and violence, when it can feel so easy to shut other people down.

Rabbi Jacobs shared generously and honestly, just as I hoped he would. The link to our conversation in Wisdom & Practice is here, and I’m sharing a small excerpt from his wisdom below. Enjoy!

You know, those of us who are, “religious leaders”, I think the danger is most great for us that we become arrogant and think that we are in the know, and that anybody who doesn't have our learning and our life of experience can't even address some of these questions.

And sometimes that life of learning is the thing that blocks us from seeing some of the most obvious and essential things. So I think it's essential for everybody to take the stance of being students and not to presume that I have the expertise.

I think for those of us who have religious titles and roles in community, it becomes absolutely imperative that we not show up in the world with, you know, I am the expert in all situations…

And I think if one doesn't have humility in general, one shows up in a moment like that and acts as if anyone has the answer, even an answer that feels like it's approximating something that the person is yearning for it. So I think the humility of the majesty of the world, and sometimes the excruciating pain in the world, like those are things that, like in the book of Job, when Job is reeling and you know the responses, did you create a world? Is this something that you presume yourself to understand all the elements?

So when we understand that we, any of us, have at most, you know, a piece of the puzzle, none of us have all the pieces, or even most of the pieces. And that in my life, experience and my interactions and my conversations and the questions that I ask are my moments that bring more pieces together to make more meaning.

Listen to the full conversation on my podcast here.