This Table Talk is dedicated to the complete recovery of Mindel Sara bat Chaya Nechama Sheindel who had cancer removed from her brain this week. To dedicate a future Table Talk, send an email.
Do try this at home.
Pretend that this world is a virtual reality game. It was created just for you. Everything that happens in the world is customized to maximize YOUR experience. But not just the things that happen to you directly, even the indirect things.
For example, today’s weather is happening to you directly. This weather is for you (like it or not)! For some reason, you needed to experience this weather, in order to react to it.
But what about the weather in another city? What if, for example, you hear about a storm or a wildfire etc. that is happening to someone else?
Well, that’s happening to you to – but what’s happening to you is that you are hearing about it. For some reason, you needed to hear about that event, in order to react to it.
In the old days, we had prophets to tell us that a storm’s a-comin’. Nowadays, we have the National Weather Service.
Three questions:
How did you react when you heard about the San Diego fires?
If you were living there, how would you want people far away to react?
What are you doing about it now?
+ + + + + + +
1. Chabad is providing food parcels to people who were evacuated to Qualcomm Stadium and other areas. They had trucks packed with kosher food drive down from Los Angeles (food was provided by Kosher Club and Jeff's Gourmet Sausage in L.A.). They are also procuring food from local caterers in San Diego. This food is being distributed to evacuated individuals throughout the area.
2. Chabad had experience in fire disasters based on a San Diego fire a few years ago, and has therefore set up a relief center that helps those evacuated fill out the proper forms and go through the process of getting their lives back on track.
3. Finally, they are providing small cash donations to individuals who have been evacuated and need some money for the immediate future.
Question for your table: What does the word “mitzvah” mean to you?
I was always bothered by the translation “commandment”. It sounds so un-subtle, and I have this preconception that a great spiritual tradition should be sublime.
Then I encountered the Chassidic idea that the etymology of “mitzvah” points towards a different translation: a “connection”. More precisely, a mitzvah is an opportunity to create a certain connection between this world and the higher world. When a person does or performs a mitzvah, they create such a connection. If a person fails to perform a potential mitzvah, then there is a waste of one potential connection. The true meaning of “tikkun olam” is to create such a connection between various parts of this world, little by little, until the entire world is connected to the higher world.
More precisely, the connections are already there, but our performing of mitzvah-actions reveals the connections.
Each one of us has a mission to uncover a certain number and type of connections. Those who do not fulfill their mission are – tradition says – often reincarnated to have another chance, not only for themselves but for the world which needs that tikkun.
Now the story... In the 16th Century a blazing light shown for two years in the city of Tsfat (Safed) in the personage of Kabbalist R. Yitzchok Luria. He was a Teacher’s Teacher, or even a Teacher’s Teacher’s Teacher. Our understanding of the Kabbalah today is largely due to his influence. There is a legend that he died young because he was revealing too much too soon to the world.
Once, R. Luria attended a bris after which the baby died. The parents and many others were obviously and understandably beside themselves with grief. But R. Luria challenged the mother: Why do you grieve? You were zochah to bring the soul of the holy R. Cordovero into the world. You see, when he was born the first time, he was a sick baby and therefore could not have his bris on the eigth day. His entire life he rued the lack of that mitzvah. You have enabled him to complete his tikkun.
Question: How can a person today figure out what mitzvahs they should be doing to complete their own tikkun?
Shabbat Shalom.
Speaking schedule – save the dates: October 21 – Codes Seminar, Baltimore November 13 – San Francisco November 14 – Los Angeles November 17 – Washington, DC. and Baltimore December 5 – Los Angeles (Hannuka party)
(For details, send an email)
Einstein quote of the week: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Yiddish of the week: tikkun – repair tikkun olam – rapairing the World
Yiddish review – how many do you remember? anee — poor person koptsen — panhandler ballaboss — homeowner; layman nu — various meanings (see archives) mishpocha — family mameh — mother tateh — father mazal — (MAH-z'l) luck or fortune, as in, "It was good mazal that...." beshert — (b'shairt) - meant to be, as in "It was beshert that..." mine eltern — my parents mine lair-er — my teacher hamantashen — Haman-pockets zeigezunt — all the best (said upon parting) kesher — connection Ikh volt veln a kave, zayt azoy gut. — I'd like a coffee, please. ...kave mit shmant. — ...a coffee with cream. ...kave mit milkh. — ...a coffee with milk. ...kave mit tsuker. — ...a coffee with sugar. Di Fir Kashes — The Four Questions Oy vey! — Good grief! mensch — a decent person rachmanus — mercy neshoma (neh-SHOH-ma) — soul minig — custom, as in, "Why do you do that?" "It's my minig!" Gavaltig — wonderful Oy gavalt — How wonderful (sarcastic) Azoy gait es! — That's how it goes! Shabbos — Cessation; stopping; day of cessation; weekly Sabbatical experience. ("Gut Shabbos" — "Enjoy your weekly sabbatical experience") neshoma — Soul meshugass — insanity meshuganeh — insane kyna hara — no evil eye shvitz - sweat shanda – shame L’chayim! - Cheers! Pinteleh Yid - the Jewish feeling in the heart of every Jew Zreezus – zeal m’kohm – place (pl. mkohmas) mamalashen – mother tongue kvetch – complaint kvell – burst with pride bashert – meant to be, pre-destined, as in, “He’s my bashert” or “It was bashert that...” hishtadlus – effort, due diligence; as in, “Do your hishtadlus and let Hashem worry about it.” Yiddishe kopf – Jewish knowledge and perspective (lit., Jewish head) Gut yahr! – Happy New Year! Gut yontiv – Happy Holiday (chag sameach) yarmulke – skull cap
This should have been posted on Friday - technical glitch.
This week a question, a story, and a question.
Question for your table: What does the word “mitzvah” mean to you?
I was always bothered by the translation “commandment”. It sounds so un-subtle, and I have this preconception that a great spiritual tradition should be sublime.
Then I encountered the Chassidic idea that the etymology of “mitzvah” points towards a different translation: a “connection”. More precisely, a mitzvah is an opportunity to create a certain connection between this world and the higher world. When a person does or performs a mitzvah, they create such a connection. If a person fails to perform a potential mitzvah, then there is a waste of one potential connection. The true meaning of “tikkun olam” is to create such a connection between various parts of this world, little by little, until the entire world is connected to the higher world.
More precisely, the connections are already there, but our performing of mitzvah-actions reveals the connections.
Each one of us has a mission to uncover a certain number and type of connections. Those who do not fulfill their mission are – tradition says – often reincarnated to have another chance, not only for themselves but for the world which needs that tikkun.
Now the story... In the 16th Century a blazing light shown for two years in the city of Tsfat (Safed) in the personage of Kabbalist R. Yitzchok Luria. He was a Teacher’s Teacher, or even a Teacher’s Teacher’s Teacher. Our understanding of the Kabbalah today is largely due to his influence. There is a legend that he died young because he was revealing too much too soon to the world.
Once, R. Luria attended a bris after which the baby died. The parents and many others were obviously and understandably beside themselves with grief. But R. Luria challenged the mother: Why do you grieve? You were zochah to bring the soul of the holy R. Cordovero into the world. You see, when he was born the first time, he was a sick baby and therefore could not have his bris on the eigth day. His entire life he rued the lack of that mitzvah. You have enabled him to complete his tikkun.
Question: How can a person today figure out what mitzvahs they should be doing to complete their own tikkun?
Shabbat Shalom.
Speaking schedule – save the dates: October 21 – Codes Seminar, Baltimore November 13 – San Francisco November 14 – Los Angeles November 17 – Washington, DC. and Baltimore December 5 – Los Angeles (Hannuka party)
(For details, send an email)
Einstein quote of the week: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Yiddish of the week: tikkun – repair tikkun olam – rapairing the World
Yiddish review – how many do you remember? anee — poor person koptsen — panhandler ballaboss — homeowner; layman nu — various meanings (see archives) mishpocha — family mameh — mother tateh — father mazal — (MAH-z'l) luck or fortune, as in, "It was good mazal that...." beshert — (b'shairt) - meant to be, as in "It was beshert that..." mine eltern — my parents mine lair-er — my teacher hamantashen — Haman-pockets zeigezunt — all the best (said upon parting) kesher — connection Ikh volt veln a kave, zayt azoy gut. — I'd like a coffee, please. ...kave mit shmant. — ...a coffee with cream. ...kave mit milkh. — ...a coffee with milk. ...kave mit tsuker. — ...a coffee with sugar. Di Fir Kashes — The Four Questions Oy vey! — Good grief! mensch — a decent person rachmanus — mercy neshoma (neh-SHOH-ma) — soul minig — custom, as in, "Why do you do that?" "It's my minig!" Gavaltig — wonderful Oy gavalt — How wonderful (sarcastic) Azoy gait es! — That's how it goes! Shabbos — Cessation; stopping; day of cessation; weekly Sabbatical experience. ("Gut Shabbos" — "Enjoy your weekly sabbatical experience") neshoma — Soul meshugass — insanity meshuganeh — insane kyna hara — no evil eye shvitz - sweat shanda – shame L’chayim! - Cheers! Pinteleh Yid - the Jewish feeling in the heart of every Jew Zreezus – zeal m’kohm – place (pl. mkohmas) mamalashen – mother tongue kvetch – complaint kvell – burst with pride bashert – meant to be, pre-destined, as in, “He’s my bashert” or “It was bashert that...” hishtadlus – effort, due diligence; as in, “Do your hishtadlus and let Hashem worry about it.” Yiddishe kopf – Jewish knowledge and perspective (lit., Jewish head) Gut yahr! – Happy New Year! Gut yontiv – Happy Holiday (chag sameach) yarmulke – skull cap
This Table Talk is dedicated to the recovery of Rochel Leah bas Chaya Sara, a 4 1/2 year old girl who was just diagnosed with leukemia, among all the other ill among us.
If you have children at the table, this is the week to engage them in the story of Noah's ark - "there's gonna be a floody-floody”). Question for them: Why on Earth would God would save Noah and his family and no one else?
The rest of this Table Talk is definitely not for children....
How would you like your end-of-the-world served?
With a sunny blue-sky morning, like September 11, 2001? Or a tempest of rolling thunder...? Mushroom cloud, anyone?
I have tried very hard to steer clear of the conspiracy-theory area of my brain. But the B-52 incident is just too juicy to ignore.
Here are some facts:
1 - On August 30, 2007, a B-52 bomber flew from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale Base in Louisiana with 6 armed nuclear missiles in the left bomb bay. This fact was leaked to the media and confirmed by the Air Force. 2 - Notice in the story linked above, the original report (based on a leak from someone at Barksdale) reported that only 5 nukes were found. 3 - Nukes cannot be moved around without tons of authorizations and sophisticated tracking. 4 - Once the story was out on September 10, the Air Force admitted that it had happened in “error” but the official story is that 6 nukes were transported, and that is the number reported by the AP and all media since. 5 - The plane sat unguarded (except for a chain link fence) on the Barksdale runway for about 10 hours before someone there noticed what the payload was. 6 Several of the personnel affiliated with Minot and Barksdale at the time and over the summer are now dead:
- Adam Barrs, July 3, crashed into a tree outside the base - 1st Lt. Weston Kissel, B-52 Pilot, July 17, motorcycle accident while on leave to Tennessee - Airman 1st Class Todd Blue, assigned to B-52 security, Sept 10, found dead while on leave in Virginia - An officer from Barksdale Base and his wife, Sept 15, motorcycle accident in Shreveport
7. An additional mysterious Air Force death occurred on August 30 (the day of the flight) when Special Forces Major John Frueh, father of 2 young children in Florida, after a friend's wedding in Portland was found dead a week later near Mt. St. Helens. 8. Master Sgt. Melvin Peele, Sept 12, killed by a forklift in a parking lot, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (location of missile decommissioning).
I have verified these facts via local media sources and correspondence with investigative reporters.
In nuke-speak, an “incident” is nicknamed “broken arrow”. A missing nuke is called an “empty quiver”.
I’m not starting to quiver yet, but I would really like to be reassured that nothing is going on and that the air force is in control of our WMDs. Because it is hard to avoid the conclusion that at least one of these options must be true: either the air force has become incompetent, or we've only seen the tip of the iceberg here.
What, me worry?
One more question – if it were the end of the world, what soundtrack would you choose?
In honor of the 90th anniversary of the birth of Thelonious Monk this week, I nominate this track:
(that’s him in the yarmulke on the piano)
Hmm...that was so good. Let's do another:
Shabbat Shalom.
Sukkot in Iraq:
Speaking schedule: October 15 – Burlingame, Calif., Peninsula Temple Sholom, “The Art of Amazement” October 16 – Mill Valley: “The Kabbala of Jewish History” October 17 – Los Angeles: “The Kabbala of Jewish History” (for singles) October 18 – Los Angeles: “Art of Amazing Marriage Pt 2 – How to Have a Good Fight”
(For details, send an email)
Einstein quote of the week: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Yiddish of the week: yarmulke – skull cap
Yiddish review – how many do you remember? anee — poor person koptsen — panhandler ballaboss — homeowner; layman nu — various meanings (see archives) mishpocha — family mameh — mother tateh — father mazal — (MAH-z'l) luck or fortune, as in, "It was good mazal that...." beshert — (b'shairt) - meant to be, as in "It was beshert that..." mine eltern — my parents mine lair-er — my teacher hamantashen — Haman-pockets zeigezunt — all the best (said upon parting) kesher — connection Ikh volt veln a kave, zayt azoy gut. — I'd like a coffee, please. ...kave mit shmant. — ...a coffee with cream. ...kave mit milkh. — ...a coffee with milk. ...kave mit tsuker. — ...a coffee with sugar. Di Fir Kashes — The Four Questions Oy vey! — Good grief! mensch — a decent person rachmanus — mercy neshoma (neh-SHOH-ma) — soul minig — custom, as in, "Why do you do that?" "It's my minig!" Gavaltig — wonderful Oy gavalt — How wonderful (sarcastic) Azoy gait es! — That's how it goes! Shabbos — Cessation; stopping; day of cessation; weekly Sabbatical experience. ("Gut Shabbos" — "Enjoy your weekly sabbatical experience") neshoma — Soul meshugass — insanity meshuganeh — insane kyna hara — no evil eye shvitz - sweat shanda – shame L’chayim! - Cheers! Pinteleh Yid - the Jewish feeling in the heart of every Jew Zreezus – zeal m’kohm – place (pl. mkohmas) mamalashen – mother tongue kvetch – complaint kvell – burst with pride bashert – meant to be, pre-destined, as in, “He’s my bashert” or “It was bashert that...” hishtadlus – effort, due diligence; as in, “Do your hishtadlus and let Hashem worry about it.” Yiddishe kopf – Jewish knowledge and perspective (lit., Jewish head) Gut yahr! – Happy New Year! Gut yontiv – Happy Holiday (chag sameach)
