Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: People never fail to amaze me in both their potential as well as in their idiosyncrasies. But the last number of weeks have really brought home that while we Jews share many commonalities, there are also quite a few quirky differences, and many of these are worth sharing.

1. 5/21/23, 4:37 AM Some Shabbos Chuckles | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/some-shabbos-chuckles/ 1/5
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
Some Shabbos Chuckles
ADVERTISEMENT

2. 5/21/23, 4:37 AM Some Shabbos Chuckles | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/some-shabbos-chuckles/ 2/5
Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal
People never fail to amaze me in both their potential as well as in their
idiosyncrasies. But the last number of weeks have really brought home that
while we Jews share many commonalities, there are also quite a few quirky
differences, and many of these are worth sharing.
Quiet everyone
As many of you who go to synagogue know, there is sort of a dual purpose for
people going there. One, of course, is to pray to Hashem. The other is for Jewish
social and communal activities. It’s basically a key way that we all stay
connected to our roots. The problem is that often these two purposes overlap,
and there is talking in synagogue when there is supposed to be praying. The
classic example is when people are talking loudly and then turn around to
everyone else to say, “Shhh, shhh!”
In the same business

3. 5/21/23, 4:37 AM Some Shabbos Chuckles | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/some-shabbos-chuckles/ 3/5
Last week, after synagogue services, someone reintroduced me to their son. I
reached out and shook his hand, wishing him a good Shabbos. The father then
says, “Yeah, you’re both in the same business.” The son, who works in
government, responds a little quizzically and asks, “Well, what business is that?”
That was my cue, and I said with a big smile, “Oh, we both work in government;
that’s the business of bureaucracy!” Yep, I think they got it.
Paying for our mistakes
A few weeks ago, we read the weekly Torah portion of Bechukotai that details
the blessings for following Hashem’s commandments and, and G-d forbid, the
curses and punishments for abandoning them. This is quite a scary reading that
details all the various threats of punishment that can befall us for leaving “the
derech” (G-d’s path). After the rabbi gave a musar (exhortation to better
ourselves) speech following the reading, my wife said to me:
Knowing she was 100% right but wanting to lighten things up a little, I replied:
I’m covered because I was a bar mitzvah.
So this past year, one of the local Chabad rabbis started up a separate monthly
shteibel (little room for communal prayer) for some of the older people for
whom it is otherwise difficult to get to Shabbat services. In an effort to try to
spread the word and get more people to attend, I told one of my neighbors
about the service and asked if he would like to attend one to try it out. He
looked at me, all sort of nervous, and said:
“You see, we always have to pay for our mistakes in life.” ”
“
“So why do you always make me overpay?” ”
“
Oh, I was bar mitzvah, and my kids were bar and bat mitzvahs, so it’s okay.
“

4. 5/21/23, 4:37 AM Some Shabbos Chuckles | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/some-shabbos-chuckles/ 4/5
When I asked what he meant by it’s okay, he repeated that they had their bar/bat
mitzvahs. When I suggested again that maybe he’d just like to try the services
and added that there is a nice kiddish afterwards, he told me to send him
something in writing so he could review it. Ok, message received.
In short, we Jews are a rich and diverse tapestry with people from around the
world and personalities from across the spectrum. We have our “saints” and our
“sinners,” but overall, the main thing is that we never stop trying!
ADVERTISEMENT

5. 5/21/23, 4:37 AM Some Shabbos Chuckles | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/some-shabbos-chuckles/ 5/5
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
ADVERTISEMENT