Shabbat Table Talk from the desk of Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
Sep 11-12, 2026 • 1 Tishrei 5787 • Rosh Hashanah (Gen 21-22)
PLEASE NOTE THE 2 SPECIAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS MESSAGE
Last week you asked at your table: What if you knew that tonight would be your very last Shabbat?
For your table tonight: What does it mean when the first Shabbat of the year coincides with Rosh Hashana?
Many Jewish people are unaware that 2,000 years ago, our Rabbis decreed that whenever Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbat we should not do the mitzvah of blowing shofar.
Why?
Two reasons:
1. To protect the sanctity of Shabbat.
2. Since RH lasts for two days, we're not missing out entirely.
But this fact of skipping shofar for the sake of Shabbat has a lesson for us, which I could formulate as a question (a revision of last week's question) for your table:
Given that this Shabbat is designed to launch your entire year, how will you do Shabbat?
Here's an additional suggestion for your table: What are the highlights of the past 12 months? What are you proud of? What do you hope to accomplish personally, socially, and creatively, in the next 12 months?
Shabbat Shalom and
L'Shanah tovah! May you and yours be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life, Happiness, Good Health, Wealth, and Wisdom.
PS: Here is a link to my "Restoring Rosh Hashanah" class in Marin this week.
Sep 11-12, 2026 • 1 Tishrei 5787 • Rosh Hashanah (Gen 21-22)
PLEASE NOTE THE 2 SPECIAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS MESSAGE
Last week you asked at your table: What if you knew that tonight would be your very last Shabbat?For your table tonight: What does it mean when the first Shabbat of the year coincides with Rosh Hashana?
Many Jewish people are unaware that 2,000 years ago, our Rabbis decreed that whenever Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbat we should not do the mitzvah of blowing shofar.
Why?
Two reasons:
1. To protect the sanctity of Shabbat.
2. Since RH lasts for two days, we're not missing out entirely.
But this fact of skipping shofar for the sake of Shabbat has a lesson for us, which I could formulate as a question (a revision of last week's question) for your table:
Given that this Shabbat is designed to launch your entire year, how will you do Shabbat?
Here's an additional suggestion for your table: What are the highlights of the past 12 months? What are you proud of? What do you hope to accomplish personally, socially, and creatively, in the next 12 months?
Shabbat Shalom and
L'Shanah tovah! May you and yours be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life, Happiness, Good Health, Wealth, and Wisdom.
PS: Here is a link to my "Restoring Rosh Hashanah" class in Marin this week.
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