Shabbat Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
Nov 13-14, 2026 • 4 Kislev 5787 • Toldot (Gen 25-28)
Now that we're in Kislev, you'd better know how many days till Chanukah....
When's the last time you bought a book in a brick-and-mortar bookstore?
I wonder what percentage of Americans never set foot in a physical bookstore (my AI robots couldn't come up with a reliable number).
But one thing is certain: every day there are fewer of us who can even remember when the only place you could buy a book was a brick-and-mortar store.
So you can imagine my joy yesterday morning when I heard the news that a new Barnes and Noble had just opened in town. Something—perhaps nostalgia—compelled me to go there, like being pulled by a magnet.
It was just like the old days—complete with a cafe and chairs throughout the store to take your coffee and enjoy a good book.
Now, ahem, I didn't actually buy a book, but I did walk out with one souvenir—a new game that looks like it might have promise for those long Shabbat evenings that have just begun. (If it's a winner, I'll add it to BestJewishBooks.com.) No surprise—they must have as many games there as books.
Speaking of bookstores, the above picture is the famous Manhattan shop founded in 1934.
I was there once, years ago. Aware of the growing Amazon challenge to such stores, I asked proprietor Yaakov Saltzer, "How's business?"
Nov 13-14, 2026 • 4 Kislev 5787 • Toldot (Gen 25-28)
Now that we're in Kislev, you'd better know how many days till Chanukah....
When's the last time you bought a book in a brick-and-mortar bookstore?I wonder what percentage of Americans never set foot in a physical bookstore (my AI robots couldn't come up with a reliable number).
But one thing is certain: every day there are fewer of us who can even remember when the only place you could buy a book was a brick-and-mortar store.
So you can imagine my joy yesterday morning when I heard the news that a new Barnes and Noble had just opened in town. Something—perhaps nostalgia—compelled me to go there, like being pulled by a magnet.
It was just like the old days—complete with a cafe and chairs throughout the store to take your coffee and enjoy a good book.
Now, ahem, I didn't actually buy a book, but I did walk out with one souvenir—a new game that looks like it might have promise for those long Shabbat evenings that have just begun. (If it's a winner, I'll add it to BestJewishBooks.com.) No surprise—they must have as many games there as books.
Speaking of bookstores, the above picture is the famous Manhattan shop founded in 1934.
I was there once, years ago. Aware of the growing Amazon challenge to such stores, I asked proprietor Yaakov Saltzer, "How's business?"
The question triggered him. "It's really hard. People come in, they find the book they want, and then they leave and buy it from this 'Amazon'. What is this Amazon? They're ruining our business."
If that line sounds quaint to you, picture a very, very traditional Orthodox family who (at that point) don't even use the internet, simply trying to maintain their 80-year-old family business.
Moreover, Jewish law forbids going into a store if you have zero intent to buy anything.
Question for your table: Can you guess why?
In 2017, the Saltzers announced that they could not continue and would have to close the store. Fortunately for them and for Jewish life in the Upper West Side, the community rallied and saved the store, which still operates today.
Here's a second question for your table: As an author, I of course want to sell books, should I care whether people buy them at a physical store or online?
That said, the new (2nd) edition of Body & Soul has finally this week reached the physical bookstores. Some of them are selling also on Amazon, but Amazon itself doesn't yet have the books (for Prime members). In case it isn't clear, I do love supporting bookstores, so please ask your favorite bookstore for the new Body & Soul!
And regardless of where you get it, don't forget to leave a review on Amazon!
Shabbat Shalom
