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March 1, 2024 - 21 Adar-1 5784 THE GREAT SHABBAT MIX-UP
Dear Friends, Normally, Rabbi Wasser sends me his Rabbinic Reflections article on Thursday, so I have time to prepare the weekly email, but unfortunately, he has been under the weather the past couple of days, so he asked me to fill in for him. As I took on the assignment of pinch-hitting for the Rabbi, I tried to think of something smart, timely, and relevant to this week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, like the Rabbi normally does. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind right away. With Shabbat starting in a few short hours, I started to feel the pressure. That's when inspiration struck! My original idea was to Google a short story by Sholem Aleichem and use it in place of the Rabbinic Reflection. I thought it might provide an interesting change of pace from the Rabbi's weekly message. Alas, I could not find a story that was short enough or had the right tone. I am a pretty loyal user of Google for my Internet searches, but here at the synagogue, we use Microsoft software, which means that Bing, the Microsoft version of Google, often pops open. Usually, I just close Bing and switch over to Google, but today, I noticed something new. The tab that opened featured something called Copilot, which is a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. This means that you can ask it a question and it will give you an answer as if you were talking to an expert. Of course, AI is still in its infancy, so it doesn't work perfectly, but it got me thinking... I first wondered if Copilot could help me, but then a question about the ethics of using generative artificial intelligence came to mind. Ultimately, I decided that if I were to use it, I would have to be up-front about it. So, with that as the ground rule, I decided to see how well Copilot could work and typed the following question into the search box: Can you write for me a short, humorous story about Shabbat that is less than 1000 words? Before I share with you Copilot’s short humorous story about Shabbat, which it generated in about 30 seconds, I would like to remind everyone that our Shabbat morning service begins at 10AM tomorrow in our lovely Sanctuary. This week, the service will be followed by a delicious Kiddush luncheon, which is sponsored by Gary Miller in memory of his grandfather, Abraham Schwartz. We thank Gary for his generosity and encourage others to remember a loved one or to celebrate a Simcha by sponsoring a Kiddush. Sponsoring a Kiddush is a wonderful Mitzvah and a great way to support the synagogue, so please consider it. I wish you a healthy, peaceful, and relaxing weekend and a good week ahead. As you get ready to enter Shabbat, I hope you will take a few minutes to enjoy The Great Shabbat Mix-Up. Shabbat Shalom, Craig Bassett, Executive Director
Once upon a time in the cozy village of Matzahville, there lived a man named Hershel. Hershel was known for his absentmindedness and his love for gefilte fish. But above all, he cherished Shabbat—the day of rest and celebration. One Friday evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Hershel prepared for Shabbat. He lit the candles, recited the blessings, and donned his finest yarmulke. Everything seemed perfect—until he realized he had forgotten to bake the challah! “Oy vey!” Hershel exclaimed. “How can we have Shabbat without challah?” His wife, Miriam, tried to calm him down. “Don’t worry, Hershel. We’ll figure something out.” But Hershel was determined. He dashed to the kitchen, rummaging through cupboards. His eyes fell on a bag of bagels. Inspiration struck! “Miriam,” Hershel declared, “tonight, we shall have Bagel Shabbat!” And so, the Matzahville community gathered at Hershel’s home. The aroma of freshly toasted bagels filled the air. The rabbi raised an eyebrow but decided not to argue. After all, Shabbat was about joy and togetherness. As they sang the blessings, Hershel accidentally spilled grape juice on his bagel. “L’chaim!” he said, raising the stained bagel like a goblet. The congregation exchanged puzzled glances. “It’s a new tradition,” Hershel explained. “Bagels and grape juice—a match made in heaven!” And so, Bagel Shabbat became a thing. People whispered, “Have you tried Hershel’s grape juice bagels? They’re life-changing!” But the chaos didn’t end there. During the Torah reading, Hershel accidentally swapped the Torah scroll with his shopping list. The rabbi unfurled the parchment and read aloud: “Item 1: Gefilte fish (extra jellied). Item 2: Matzah (crunchy, not too sandy). Item 3: Two-for-one pickles.” The congregation burst into laughter. Even the solemn Torah couldn’t resist a chuckle. As the sun set, Hershel led the kiddush. He raised a bagel high, reciting the blessing. “Baruch atah Adonai, who brings forth bagels from the earth!” The children giggled, and the elders shook their heads. But deep down, they loved Hershel’s quirky spirit. After the meal, Hershel invited everyone to dance. “Let’s do the Bagel Boogie!” he announced. And so, they twirled and spun, bagels in hand, grape juice stains on their shirts. The walls echoed with laughter and joy. As the night wore on, Hershel leaned over to Miriam. “You know,” he whispered, “I think Bagel Shabbat is catching on.” Miriam smiled. “Yes, Hershel. Our little mix-up has brought us closer. Tradition is important, but sometimes a bagel twist makes life more delicious.” And so, in Matzahville, every Friday evening, the community gathers for Bagel Shabbat. Hershel’s legacy lives on, reminding them that even in the mishaps, there’s holiness and love. And that, my friends, is how Bagel Shabbat became a cherished tradition in Matzahville. So next time you raise your challah or bagel, remember Hershel and the joy he brought to the Sabbath table.
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