Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
June 21-22, 2024 • 16 Sivan 5784 • Behalosecha (Num 8-12).
The goal of this blog is a prophetic Shabbat table ... please share.
Congrats to all the recent grads! Happy birthday shoutout to Elliott and Gina!
In memory of my grandparents, Eliezer ben Zelig and Sima bas Mordechai Yaakov (Les and Sylvia Seinfeld), whose yahrzeits were observed this week.
Congrats to all the recent grads! Happy birthday shoutout to Elliott and Gina!
In memory of my grandparents, Eliezer ben Zelig and Sima bas Mordechai Yaakov (Les and Sylvia Seinfeld), whose yahrzeits were observed this week.
As I asked last week, since Rosh Hashana is months away, is too soon to start waking-up?
What's stopping us?
Try this question at your table: Did someone ever knock on your door to offer you a new religion?
I'm guessing that this has happened to most people at least once.
I suppose these people must have some success sometimes? But I've never heard of anyone who accepted the offer. Have you?
Why not?
Presumably, most people don't consider converting unless they're unhappy with the status quo.
That's the same reason that people don't start taking care of their health until they get sick.
But there's an even more important reason - the price is too steep.
Ironically, people will be willing to pay any financial price to be happy, but they're not willing to pay the ultimate price.
They will sell assets, borrow from friends and family, do whatever they can to buy happiness or health.
But they won't do the one most important thing you can do to improve your health or happiness: change yourself. Change your habits.
Not just your physical habits. Also your mental habits.
Perhaps a key to motivating true change is in this week's Torah portion.
In my opinion, the parshah includes one of the most profound lessons in the entire Torah on the present topic.
During the tenure of Moshe (Moses), two men - Eldad and Medad - become prophets and start prophesizing.
This is apparently unexpected and unusual and Moshe's disciple Joshua is upset at this apparent chuzpah and asks Moshe to stop them.
Question for your table: How would you expect Moshe to respond?
Moshe's reply is a bombshell:
"You misunderstand prophecy. I don't have a monopoly on it. The goal of Judaism is for every person to become a prophet!"
Hear this lesson - it's the absolute key to changing yourself and your life - whether it be in matters of health, relationships, enterprise or creativity: you have to have a vision of what you can become, of the person you have the potential to be.
Your potential is likely far higher than you think. You have greatness inside you waiting to come out. Inside you is a more disciplined person. A more loving person. A more generous person. A more patient person. A happier person. Don't lose sight of that!
Inside of you is a prophetic person!
But this is a serious question for your table: Would you WANT to be a prophet?
"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."
(Anyone remember who said that?)
Shabbat Shalom
What's stopping us?
Try this question at your table: Did someone ever knock on your door to offer you a new religion?
I'm guessing that this has happened to most people at least once.
I suppose these people must have some success sometimes? But I've never heard of anyone who accepted the offer. Have you?
Why not?
Presumably, most people don't consider converting unless they're unhappy with the status quo.
That's the same reason that people don't start taking care of their health until they get sick.
But there's an even more important reason - the price is too steep.
Ironically, people will be willing to pay any financial price to be happy, but they're not willing to pay the ultimate price.
They will sell assets, borrow from friends and family, do whatever they can to buy happiness or health.
But they won't do the one most important thing you can do to improve your health or happiness: change yourself. Change your habits.
Not just your physical habits. Also your mental habits.
Perhaps a key to motivating true change is in this week's Torah portion.
In my opinion, the parshah includes one of the most profound lessons in the entire Torah on the present topic.
During the tenure of Moshe (Moses), two men - Eldad and Medad - become prophets and start prophesizing.
This is apparently unexpected and unusual and Moshe's disciple Joshua is upset at this apparent chuzpah and asks Moshe to stop them.
Question for your table: How would you expect Moshe to respond?
Moshe's reply is a bombshell:
"You misunderstand prophecy. I don't have a monopoly on it. The goal of Judaism is for every person to become a prophet!"
Hear this lesson - it's the absolute key to changing yourself and your life - whether it be in matters of health, relationships, enterprise or creativity: you have to have a vision of what you can become, of the person you have the potential to be.
Your potential is likely far higher than you think. You have greatness inside you waiting to come out. Inside you is a more disciplined person. A more loving person. A more generous person. A more patient person. A happier person. Don't lose sight of that!
Inside of you is a prophetic person!
But this is a serious question for your table: Would you WANT to be a prophet?
"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."
(Anyone remember who said that?)
Shabbat Shalom
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 education to enable every human being to access and enjoy the incredible database of 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment