Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
August 5, 2023 • 18 Menachem Av 5783 • Parshas Eikev (Deut 7-11)
The purpose of this email is to bring out the inner child at the Shabbat table - please share.
This week, I have had the privilege of spending time with extended family, including our two grandchildren.
The Talmud says, "Grandchildren are like children."
First question for your table: What does this mean to you?
Perhaps it refers to the "joy of grandchildren" cliché. I do not deny this joy.
Another cliché: when it comes to someone else's grandchildren, most people are satisfied with one single photo - they don't need to see baby on the swing, baby on the floor, baby with a bottle, baby sleeping...
I guess I'm abnormal in more ways than one.
First of all, I don't particularly kvell from slide shows of even my own grandchildren... one great shot a week gives me a full dose of nachas.
But I'm even crazier than that: I take after my own grandfather z''l who loved kids in general, even strangers' children.
Question for your table: What can you learn from a child?
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov taught: We should learn three things from a child: they're always busy, they're always happy, and when they want something, they say, "Please, please, please Mommy (or Daddy)" until they get what they want.
Shabbat Shalom
The Talmud says, "Grandchildren are like children."
First question for your table: What does this mean to you?
Perhaps it refers to the "joy of grandchildren" cliché. I do not deny this joy.
Another cliché: when it comes to someone else's grandchildren, most people are satisfied with one single photo - they don't need to see baby on the swing, baby on the floor, baby with a bottle, baby sleeping...
I guess I'm abnormal in more ways than one.
First of all, I don't particularly kvell from slide shows of even my own grandchildren... one great shot a week gives me a full dose of nachas.
But I'm even crazier than that: I take after my own grandfather z''l who loved kids in general, even strangers' children.
Question for your table: What can you learn from a child?
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov taught: We should learn three things from a child: they're always busy, they're always happy, and when they want something, they say, "Please, please, please Mommy (or Daddy)" until they get what they want.
Shabbat Shalom
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As always, this message can be read online at http://rabbiseinfeld.blogspot.com.
And yes, both images are clickable!!
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The mission of Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc. (JSLI) is to foster a paradigm-shift in spiritual and moral education in general, including but not limited to Jewish education, towards an experiential pedagogy that transforms students with its spiritual vision and relevance to their daily lives.
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