Olympia’s Rabbi Seth Goldstein brings Judaism to TikTok

Rabbi Seth Goldstein, who leads Olympia’s Temple Beth Hatfiloh, has become a social-media sensation, reaching a million likes for his often hilarious and generally educational TikTok videos.

Did you know, for example, that had he been born on Dec. 25, Jesus — whose birth date is unknown — would have been circumcised on New Year’s Day?

OK, so that’s trivia more than theology, but most of Goldstein’s videos teach something about the Torah. He takes inspiration from the weekly Torah portion, which he approaches in ways both serious and silly. For example, he repurposed the soundtrack to a skit about Waffle House to make a point about Moses’ conversation with God, who appears in a burning bush. (Though the voice of God in the clip isn’t his, Goldstein does lend his features to the deity.)

This month, the rabbi reached a million total likes for the videos, which he started posting in August 2020 after his wife, Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg, introduced him to the platform where users connect by creating content.

“It was a pandemic hobby,” Goldstein told The Olympian. “At some point, I got the idea that I could maybe make a video or two, and I did, and maybe the fourth one I made got blown up. I was hooked.

He tries to post at least once a day, often responding to TikTok trends, in one case showing Moses confronting Pharaoh with help from audio recorded for a “Breaking Bad” parody and in another lip-synching to Fleetwood Mac while drinking Manischewitz, a kosher wine well known for its low price tag.

“There’ll be songs and clips of video from various shows, and they take on a life of their own,” Goldstein said. “I just try to ride the wave and make things Jewish.”

His most popular video, in which he lifts the Torah to the sound of a cheering crowd, has more than 67,000 likes.

While many temple members and friends appreciate his takes on spirituality, theology and life as a rabbi, Goldstein is now known far and wide.

Among the responses to his Facebook post about reaching a million likes was one from a high school friend, Ira Lieman of Fair Lawn, N.J. “This weekend, a friend of mine mentioned you as a fun TikTok follow and was taken aback that I knew you way before TikTok was a thing,” Lieman wrote.

Fame wasn’t Goldstein’s goal, though.

“I’m finding it a valuable and fun way to connect with people,” he said. “There’s a strong desire out there for spirituality, and people are finding it in different ways. People are learning, and people are asking questions.

“I’m taking these ancient teachings and bringing them into a brand-new medium.”

Also joining Goldstein on TikTok are the family’s pets, who make occasional guest appearances. Oswald, the 150-pound pot-bellied pig Goldstein and Kinberg adopted late last year, is a real spotlight hog.

“I feel like I’m going to have to turn over my account to him,” Goldstein said. “There’s public demand.”