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.