Shabbat Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
June 6-7, 2025 • 11 Sivan 5785 • Naso (Num 4-7).
Last week's message was about Gentiles doing Judaism. This week is about how Jews "do" Judaism.
Here's a real question from my inbox this week that I think represents a common view not only of Judaism but of "organized religion:"
I'm proud to be Jewish, I'm fascinated with our history and many of the traditions, I love our food, I love recognizing my traits in other Jews and vice versa. I want to dive in much deeper and finally 'live Jewish'. But. Religion feels forced to me, even the Jewish religion. Why do we need to follow rules to mourn a certain way? To eat a certain way? To sit through services that repeat the same messages, over and over again? It all feels unnatural to me.
Question for your table: how would you respond to this person?
It seems to me that the main part of the message is the words, "I want to dive in much deeper, but..."
I'd like to share my response to this person, in case it may benefit anyone reading this, or someone you know...
Believe it or not, this desire for "deeper diving" is very familiar situation that many people have experienced lately! And it was foretold by our Prophets thousands of years ago that in the lead-up to the Messianic Age, many disconnected Jewish people (and even many who didn't even know they were Jewish) will appear "like grass sprouting from parched land."
You say your understanding of "religion" isn't meaningful to you. What about our weekly holiday? In my opinion an easy way to start getting a deeper connection would be to start by taking the simple action of lighting candles 18 minutes before sunset every Friday. This will connect you to millions of Jews around the world and your grandparents and great-grandparents going back thousands of years. You could try it this week and see if it feels forced or authentic!
Beyond that, here's a suggested reading list that I think you will find very informative:
Judaism: A Historical Presentation
My Friends We Were Robbed!
The Art of Amazement
Living Inspired
The Everything Torah Book
Putting aside ritual, Tribal membership is magnified and enriched by community, I would certainly encourage you to try finding a group of Jews whom you enjoy being with - whether it be for services or classes or social events.
Some of us believe that nothing occurs randomly - if this is your background and your story, it there's undoubtedly a reason for it! There is a traditional teaching that each one of us was sent to this world to fulfill a mission, and if you are Jewish, then your mission is possibly bound up with whatever that means.
Bottom line, Judaism belongs to you as much as to any other Jew, regardless of how you were raised and regardless of what you choose to do with it! The above suggestions will surely help you along that path and you can go as far as you want to — as others have before you! Just take it slow and over time try to find a rabbi to guide you.
Hope that's encouraging and helpful.... enjoy the journey!
Second question for your table: I've heard Judaism compared to basketball (we're all playing the same game, but with different talents and styles), to music (we're all members of a symphony orchestra, each playing a different instrument), to a diamond (we're all facets of the same gem, but each person needs to self-polish for the gem to shine). Which of these analogies - or other - appeals to you the most?
Shabbat Shalom
Appreciated this Table Talk? Like it, tweet it, forward it....
Here's a real question from my inbox this week that I think represents a common view not only of Judaism but of "organized religion:"
I'm proud to be Jewish, I'm fascinated with our history and many of the traditions, I love our food, I love recognizing my traits in other Jews and vice versa. I want to dive in much deeper and finally 'live Jewish'. But. Religion feels forced to me, even the Jewish religion. Why do we need to follow rules to mourn a certain way? To eat a certain way? To sit through services that repeat the same messages, over and over again? It all feels unnatural to me.
Question for your table: how would you respond to this person?
It seems to me that the main part of the message is the words, "I want to dive in much deeper, but..."
I'd like to share my response to this person, in case it may benefit anyone reading this, or someone you know...
Believe it or not, this desire for "deeper diving" is very familiar situation that many people have experienced lately! And it was foretold by our Prophets thousands of years ago that in the lead-up to the Messianic Age, many disconnected Jewish people (and even many who didn't even know they were Jewish) will appear "like grass sprouting from parched land."
You say your understanding of "religion" isn't meaningful to you. What about our weekly holiday? In my opinion an easy way to start getting a deeper connection would be to start by taking the simple action of lighting candles 18 minutes before sunset every Friday. This will connect you to millions of Jews around the world and your grandparents and great-grandparents going back thousands of years. You could try it this week and see if it feels forced or authentic!
Beyond that, here's a suggested reading list that I think you will find very informative:
Judaism: A Historical Presentation
My Friends We Were Robbed!
The Art of Amazement
Living Inspired
The Everything Torah Book
Putting aside ritual, Tribal membership is magnified and enriched by community, I would certainly encourage you to try finding a group of Jews whom you enjoy being with - whether it be for services or classes or social events.
Some of us believe that nothing occurs randomly - if this is your background and your story, it there's undoubtedly a reason for it! There is a traditional teaching that each one of us was sent to this world to fulfill a mission, and if you are Jewish, then your mission is possibly bound up with whatever that means.
Bottom line, Judaism belongs to you as much as to any other Jew, regardless of how you were raised and regardless of what you choose to do with it! The above suggestions will surely help you along that path and you can go as far as you want to — as others have before you! Just take it slow and over time try to find a rabbi to guide you.
Hope that's encouraging and helpful.... enjoy the journey!
Second question for your table: I've heard Judaism compared to basketball (we're all playing the same game, but with different talents and styles), to music (we're all members of a symphony orchestra, each playing a different instrument), to a diamond (we're all facets of the same gem, but each person needs to self-polish for the gem to shine). Which of these analogies - or other - appeals to you the most?
Shabbat Shalom
Appreciated this Table Talk? Like it, tweet it, forward it....
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