Jenny Block with her father, Rabbi Kenneth Barry Block, at her wedding. (Photo by Lisa Hause)
Rabbi Kenneth Barry Block — columnist Jenny Block’s dad — urges everyone to just do it
JENNY BLOCK | Contributing Columnist
jennyeblock@icloud.com
For as long as I can remember, my rabbi has been my confidant, my cheerleader, my advisor, my motivator, my counselor. He performed by Bat Mitzvah, my confirmation and my wedding. He was there to congratulate me on every win, to support me on every loss, to push me toward every opportunity — especially the ones I was too scared to hope for.
He once told me I have never gotten a job for which I was actually qualified. And it’s true for the most part. He’s always told me to just go for it and I’d figure it out.
And he was right.
The thing is, Rabbi Kenneth Barry Block is not just my rabbi. He is also my dad.
I consider myself incredibly lucky when it comes to the dad lottery. I honestly can’t imagine having done any better. Bad jokes and silly pranks (like signing notes to school “Jenny’s dad”) and costumes when none were warranted and all.
He has long talked about writing a book. Well, he has long talked about me writing a book for or about him. “You should write about me,” he would say. “I am an excellent subject.”
He’s not wrong. He’s long been known as “Rabbi on the Go.” He’s been performing gay weddings and dual religion weddings since before either were widely accepted. The guy has always been way before his time, that’s for sure.
But I always thought he should actually write a book.
He’s written a zillion sermons. (Yes, a zillion.) He’s written countless newsletters and speeches and letters and the like. And now he’s a bit of a Tik Tok and YouTube/podcast star, too.
The Rabbi and I, his channels are called — just him and his buddy, Joe Sutliff, who is a cartoonist, talking about all things Jewish and life and philosophy and history and politics, all with his characteristic wit and, quite frankly, genius.
If he ran the country…well, let’s just say, we should be so lucky.
All of that is to say that the man has got some brains on him, and he’s an excellent writer and speaker. And he’s got content out the wazoo. Sigh. (Ok, one drawback to being Rabbi Block’s daughter: After so many years, you start talking and writing like the guy.)
Anyway, I decided to give the old guy a taste of his own medicine finally: “Daddy, why don’t you write a book?” I asked.
“Me? You’re the writer. I’m the rabbi. What would I write?” he replied.
“Ah. That is the wrong question you ask,” I said.
“Are you rabbi-ing me or Yoda-ing me?” he asked.
“Both, I am doing,” I said. “You have already written or spoken so many words. Mine your own work. I imagine a book you already have.”
I suggested he take a look at his videos and transcribe them and see what he had. And what he had was not only a book. What he had was the culmination, the epitome of who he is and what I truly believe he was put on this planet to teach: Don’t be afraid to come up to bat. You can’t hit if you don’t swing. Bat like no one’s watching. And, if you miss, do it again.
(“Do or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda)
The same is true for Judaism. So many people — too many people — are afraid they aren’t “doing enough” or that they aren’t “doing it right.”
But my dad will be the first to tell you that neither is the issue. All you have to do is, well, do.
That’s what his new book, How to be Jewish in 30 Seconds, is all about. To be Jewish you just “do.” Each chapter is a thing you can do. Jews are born. Jews are made. Jews share beliefs and practices. And Jews don’t judge others about their Jewishness.
It’s about desire and intention not perfection.
Want to keep Kosher? Great. Don’t want to? Terrific. Mezzuzahs on your doorways. Saying Hamotzi before a meal. Fasting on Yom Kippur.
Giving Tzedakah. Doing Mitzvot. Sure you can do it all. But doing some is a far greater thing than doing none.
And that is what the book — and he — are all about. In How to be Jewish in 30 Seconds he’s talking about how to be Jewish, of course. But in a larger sense, he is talking about how to live. He is asking the question, “What bite-size piece could you accomplish if you stopped worrying about eating the whole cake?”
Take the one class. Go on the ¼-mile walk. Crochet the Barbie-sized scarf. Try the cooked sushi. Fill out the application. Take the flight. Introduce yourself. Step onto the dance floor.
Thirty seconds at a time — that’s all you have to take on. And, if being Jewish is on your list, my dad’s book offers you that particular to do list.
And, even if not, Joe’s cartoons are worth grabbing a copy.
But if you come for the cartoons, I promise, you’ll stay for the words. Doesn’t matter the something you believe in. This book, and my dad, are simply about believing in something. And, first and foremost, believing in yourself.
The Rabbi and I is both the YouTube channel and podcast. For fun, Rabbi Block started two other podcasts: The Wisdom of Rabbi Block and How to be Jewish in 30 Seconds. He is live on TikTok every Wednesday at 8 p.m.