A Jewish Thanksgiving?

Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfel

November 23-25, 2023 • 12-15 Kislev 5784 • VaYeitzei (Gen 29-31). 

The purpose of this blog is to foster a true thanks-giving ... please forward/print/share.

First of all, if you missed the short video diary of my trip to Israeli, please click here.

(Note that there are several videos, you need to scroll down).

Second, by popular demand, once again we have a special video Table Talk for Thanksgiving. 

You can watch this year's edition here.

(In addition to sharing the video with your family, you can show your own thanks by forwarding it to everyone you love of course...)

Shabbat Shalom,

Alexander Seinfeld

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The mission of Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc. (JSLI) is to foster a paradigm shift in spiritual and moral education to enable every human being to access and enjoy the incredible database of 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom.

Who's the Show For? (and Who's the Chauffeur)

Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld

November 17-18, 2023 • 5 Kislev 5784 • Toldos (Gen 25-28). 

The purpose of this email is to elevate the Shabbat table... please forward/print/share.
Happy Birthday shout-out to Moshe W - another year older, another year wiser!

Remember that koala bear last week?

I'm happy to report that this week he has found a new home: the loving arms of a refugee child from southern Israel.

Many of the children and all of their parents asked me thank all the Jews around the world who sent them these gifts of love — stuffed animals, toys and activities.

The children were just so purely grateful for the gifts and activities.

The parents told me and are still telling me that the most important part of the gift was the thought behind it - which generated the following reciprocal thought: "There truly are Jewish people far away who care so much for me even though they don't know me."

If you think about it, that's the perfect antidote to, "There are people out there who hate me even though they don't know me."

(I have already emailed most or all who gave onymously (yes I invented that word) their names but obviously couldn't thank anyone who contributed anonymously, of which there were many.)

To everyone, it has been a honor to be your messenger to these wonderful sweet, gentle families. Not only were the toys and games all used, so were the extra funds that you sent, in order to supplement as needed.

Most of the toys and games have indeed been given to refugees in this hotel. The small surplus from this week are going to be distributed at other hotels housing refugees.

Some of you have asked me about the prospects for they themselves coming on a solidarity trip. Yes, come. With or without a specific agenda. Just being here and interacting with people, spending some money - these are huge gestures of solidarity. 

Or don't come, but keep up the vociferous action and towards your local and national governments. These are also huge statements of solidarity.

The Washington rally is an obvious example...

Or is it not?

Here's a question for your table: Who was the most important audience of the Washington rally - the US Government, Israelis, or ourselves?


Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem,

Alexander Seinfeld


PS - I'm continuing to post short updates on Instagram.

Enjoyed this Table Talk? Vote with your fingers! Like it, tweet it,  email it....

The mission of Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc. (JSLI) is to foster a paradigm shift in spiritual and moral education to enable every human being to access and enjoy the incredible database of 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom.

How Do You Know If Your Life is Meaningful?

Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld

November 10-11, 2023 • 27 Mar Cheshvan 5784 • Chayei Sarah (Gen 23-25). 

The purpose of this email is to elevate the Shabbat table... please forward/print/share.
Happy Birthday shout-out to my dear wife - like a fine wine, you're greater every year!

That title is a great Q for your table.

Do you need to wait for your funeral to see what people say about you?

I'm guessing that some people at the table will say that living a meaningful life means a big vision and an ambitious program.

Others will say that for them it means finding meaning in small, everyday activities.

For others, it may mean being ready to act when opportunity knocks.

This coming Sunday I'm scheduled to fly to Israel for a short stay (less than a week). 

You know, when you live in a Jewish community like Baltimore and word gets out that you are going to Israel, you start receiving phone calls from random people asking if you have room in your luggage to take something to someone living there - it could be medication, or a document, or even a pair of shoes. Since the standard luggage allowance is one checked bag, my general response would be yes to the small things and regrets to the large ones.

Now, I found out that the hotel where I'm staying has hundreds of refugees from the South. This includes over 100 children.

So I phoned up the hotel manager to ask what I could bring for them, and he couldn't think of anything.

So my first instinct was to wait until I arrive and assess the situation.

But on Tuesday this week, the idea came into my head to be more proactive. Surely those kids (and their parents) are going bonkers - imagine being in their situation - in a hotel far from home, no school, no playground... 

I asked my niece who lives there to investigate for me and she confirmed my suspicions.

So on Tuesday night and Wednesday I sent out a emails to a few people inviting them to help me fill a few suitcases with toys and activities for these kids.

Yesterday our front porch started filling up with packages. We now have three extra suitcases full of Rubik's Cubes (check out this new one), stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons, and so on. 

Some people sent cash donations, which I will take and spend in Israel at local toy stores.

What I'm planning is hopefully a "normal" thing that a person does — when there is a need, we look for ways to help. But it would not be possible without the participation of all these partners. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for empowering me and entrusting me to go on this mission.

(It is not too late to participate in the mitzvah - just use the above link.)

Two more questions for the table:

Does a meaning in life always involve other people?
Does it need to be meaningful every day — or is it about the big picture? 

 

Shabbat Shalom,
 

Alexander Seinfeld


PS - I'm planning to post short updates on Instagram, you can see the first one here.

Alone But Not Lonely?

Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld

November 3-4, 2023 • 20 Mar Cheshvan 5784 • Vayeira (Gen 18-22). 

The purpose of this email is to create a friendlier Shabbat table... please forward/print/share.
Happy Anniversary shout-out to Amy and Lawrence - 13 is the gematria of AHAVAH!

Here's a good opening question for your table:

The Torah famously says that every human was created "in the image of God."

Question: What in the world does that mean?

To work toward an answer, let's make a counter-point to last week's troubling message.

Every Jew knows that to be Jewish means to feel different and sometimes - as a Jew - alone in the world.

But as long as we have each other - a Jewish community - aloneness doesn't need to mean loneliness.

Moreover, weren't there Germans and others during the Holocaust who did the right thing? How about today?

Some of these friendly voices are popping up on youtube comments and other social media:

• I stand with Israel God bless Israel
• I admire Israeli people, they talk humbly, calmly
• I'm a South African and support Israel
• As a Korean, I strongly support Israel
• I love and stand for Israel
• God bless the IDF, Jai Hind from India

Question for your table: do these voices help, or are we - despite them - pretty much alone?

The most basic answer to my original question up top - what does "image of God" mean? - is that every day you have ethical or moral choices to make. It seems to me that social media voices like these make the world feel a bit less lonely.

But then how can you know you're on the side of what's right? 

"If a Jedi walks the path of the dark side, the dark side is always in their heart." - Yoda

Shabbat Shalom,

Alexander Seinfeld


PS - If you click on the image above, you'll find an intellectual video that will appeal to some; others might prefer this short but sweet one.

Enjoyed this Table Talk? Vote with your fingers! Like it, tweet it, forward it....

The mission of Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc. (JSLI) is to foster a paradigm shift in spiritual and moral education to enable every human being to access and enjoy the incredible database of 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom.