To Lead or Not to Lead, That is the Question

The purpose of this blog is to put a little order back into Friday night dinner.... Please forward, like, tweet or at least print and share.

Out of the blue yesterday a call came in from a sixty-something man who told me he was planning to make a Seder for the first time in his life.

He had Googled "how to run a Seder" and stumbled upon my article, "The Art of Leading an Amazing Seder", and from there tracked me down.

The first question of the week for your table:

Does it really matter (doing your own Seder v. being a guest at someone else's)?

We sympathize with those who feel that making your own Seder just seems so overwhelming.

But if you have children (even grown) or grandchildren, then making your own Seder really is a big deal.

The basic premise of the Seder is the older generation telling the younger generation why it matters that we're Jewish.

And we ritualize it, we make it fun, we invent variations, but in the end the message is the same: it matters that we're Jewish.

It matters so much that we're going to the effort to make our own Seder.

I mean, even Groucho did it.

Think about it.

And then get busy. You might start here or here or even here.

Or here? or here....or here... or here for sure.

(And if you already have Seder plans, you could always try this.)

Shabbat Shalom!

PS - If you are wondering what's going on with the Art of Amazement Haggada - we've been putting a lot of time into a new 2017 edition. I hope to be able to announce it next week in this space.

PPS - SPEAKING OF JEWISH IDENTITY, Did you know you can gift the Amazing Jewish-Fact-a-Day Calendar app (or use this link).  No matter how Jewishly literate, guaranteed to larn you something new! So if you know someone who is Jewish, send them the app!


PPPS - Did you find the hidden link?


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Time to Get Serious

This blog is called "Table Talk" for a reason - the goal is to start cleaning our minds around the Friday night dinner table.... Please forward, like, tweet or at least print and share.
Wishing D-D in Portland a happy 80th birthday this week - may you live to 120!

YES THE RUMORS ARE TRUE - The Amazing Jewish-Fact-a-Day Calendar app has been updated (v. 2.11). Search by title, or by my name, or use this link. No matter how Jewishly literate, guaranteed to larn you something new! So please forward this paragraph or this email to everyone you care about.


Time to Get Serious
 
Last week's humor was too much for some readers. Stunned them into silence.

This week, the humor is gone but not the food.

For wouldn't you know, Amazon's matzah selection keeps getting better and better.

First question for your table: Would it be cool to have it drone-delivered to the Seder?

You know why we're talking about matzah this week, right?

Right?

If you're already ordering matzah, it may be time to start thinking about some essential Seder shopping (such as props or the Un-Haggadah).

Here's the question chain for your table: Is all this stuff really important for a great Seder? Or does a great Seder require something different?





Shabbat Shalom!






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The Good, the Bad and the Yummy

The goal of this blog is to lighten up the Shabbat table in good taste. Please forward, like, tweet or at least print and share.
Wishing Dede bat Sima a speedy and complete recovery.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - The Amazing Jewish-Fact-a-Day Calendar has been updated (v. 2.11). It should be available for all iOS devices. Either search by title, or by my name, or use this link. With the proceeds, we are hoping to release a completely revamped v. 3.0 later this year. In the meantime, enjoy!
  
Last week's reader-challenge failed to turn up a superior Jewish joke, so the "two guys in Argentina joke" remains at the top.

In the meantime, hamantasch (that favorite Purim cookie) factories big and small have been at full-steam, leading us to a question for your table:

What would you guess are the three most popular hamantasch flavors?

(Answer below.)

That question leads us to some good news, some bad news, and some yummy news.

The good news is more people than ever before are doing Purim this year.

Why is that good news?

Because one of the main ways to celebrate Purim is to give gifts (money and food). So more people celebrating = more giving.

The bad news is that the world still has a few Haman-wanna-bes. The current front-runner is the president of Persia/Iran, Mr. Rou-Haman-i (who took over for Mr. A-Haman-nijadad in 2013.

Still building the bomb, still wants to kill the Jews.

Note that Persia is the setting of the ancient Purim story.

(In case the face doesn't ring a bell, click on it and learn something about the Haman of our day. Or click here, or here.)

The yummy news is what these modern Hamans have taught us about hamantaschen.

We have all wondered why are they shaped like that, and what does hamantash mean, anyhow?

When I was a kid, we used to call them “Haman’s hat”. But that’s because we didn’t spreken Yiddish. Then I went to Israel where they call them “Oznay Haman” - Haman’s ears. So I thought that tashen meant ears.

And then I stumbled upon these photos, hard evidence that the ear theory is correct. At least that's one benefit of Rou-Haman-i's election.

So I'm guessing you're thinking, "What are supposed to do, Rabbi, defeat our enemies by mocking them?"

This calls for a Monty Python line:

“We spit on you, you silly Persian. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away or we will taunt you a second time!” (say with French accent)

(Here is a YouTube clip that says it best.)

Like I said, more people are doing Purim this year. Here are the stats from Israel alone:

+ Some thirty million hamantaschen are being baked.
+ This year Israelis will be able to buy goat cheese and onion hamantaschen.
+ Goat cheese and onion has a ways to go before it overtake the most popular flavors of poppy-seed, chocolate and date.

(For the adventurous, here ere are some other interesting flavor innovations.)

Final questions for your table: What's your favorite hamantaschen flavor? What flavor would you never want to try?

The time to eat them is of course this coming Sunday afternoon, remembering that every Haman has his hour, and his downfall.


Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim


PS - All kidding aside, two of the great Purim mitzvot can be done online:

- Gifts to the poor - Here or here or here or ....
- Care packages to friends, neighbors, family - Amazon's selection

Proven to be the Greatest Jewish Joke Ever

The goal of this post is to crowd-source Jewish humor. For blessings and good luck yada-yada, please forward to your entire list.
Wishing Dede bat Sima a speedy and complete recovery.
  
Stop me if you've heard this one....

In Buenos Aires, two panhandlers are sitting on the ground, a few feet apart.

One wears a large cross. The other, a Star of David.

Needless to say, the plate of the former fills up quickly, with almost nothing in the plate of the latter.

After some time, a kindly priest passes and sizes up the situation. He turns to the Jewish beggar, "My son, you should put away that Star of David. You will never make enough money wearing that."

After he leaves, the Jewish beggar turns to the other with an annoyed look, saying in Yiddish, "Hey Merle, could you believe that guy, trying to tell us how to run our business?"

Greatest Jewish joke ever, right?

No? Got a better one?

(At our Purim celebration I always tell my father's favorite joke. If you want to hear it, you'll have to come over.)

This year we're making a contest for the best Jewish joke. Send it in and you may just win. Winning joke(s) will receive all the due honors thereof.

For your table tonight, 3 questions....

1. What makes a funny joke funny?
2. What makes a Jewish joke Jewish?
3. Why does Purim get all the fun?

(Hint, hint, hint...)

Shabbat Shalom

PS - All kidding aside, two of the great Purim mitzvot can be done online:

- Gifts to the poor - Here or here or here or ....
- Care packages to friends, neighbors, family - Amazon's selection


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