Tuesday Morning Torah – November 21, 2017
It is a few days before Thanksgiving, and you can feel it in the air. Whether you are shopping at the grocery store (very crowded already!), attending school functions with children and grandchildren, or making your family plans for this week- we have once again reached the beginning of our secular “holiday” season.
I have always loved Thanksgiving. On this quintessential American holiday, we gather with friends and family to celebrate and give thanks for the gifts of our lives. As we eat to our hearts content, stuffing ourselves with turkey, yams, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and other traditional favorites, we are reminded that for the most part, our lives are as full delightful as the food in our stomachs. Yes, life has its struggles and some days are better than others; yes, we are living during a challenging time when it comes to the lack of civility and the tear in the fabric of our politics as an American society- but, as a whole, many of us are blessed to live daily lives that are filled with blessing.
The idea that we are to take time out of our lives to give thanks for what we have is an extremely Jewish message. Our is a tradition in which we are taught to start our days with gratitude, and say as many as 100 blessings each day. Indeed, even the Hebrew name for the Jewish people, Yehudim is connected to gratitude. As our Torah portion for this week, Parshat Vayeitzei, tells us:
She (Leah) conceived again and bore a son, and declared, ‘This time I will thank (odeh) the Lord.’ Therefore she named him Yehudah (English: Judah). Gen. 29:35
We, the people of Judah, the Yehudim, were born through the language of gratitude and thanksgiving.
It is with all of this in mind that I want to challenge each of us to remember that having Thanksgiving once a year is simply not enough. As Jews, we are taught that giving thanks is a muscle that we are to exercise on a regular basis. This year, as you recover from your travels, and your Thanksgiving feast I invite you to be more proactive when it comes to incorporating thanksgiving into your daily lives.
One practical exercise:
When you wake up each morning try reciting the traditional words of thanksgiving, the Modeh Ani, before starting your day. When you are finished, add your own personal prayer of thanksgiving. The entire thing will take you less than one minute- but the moment of mindfulness just might transform your day.
Modeh (M.)/Modah(F.) Ani L’fanekha, Melekh Chai V’kayam, She’hekhezartah bi Nishmati Be’chemlah- Rabah Emunatekha
I am thankful to you, living, enduring King, for restoring my soul to me in compassion. You are faithful beyond measure.
In addition, I would encourage each of you to set aside a few minutes, each day to thank God for something in your lives. Many of the traditional blessings can be found here (nature) and here (food) , but you can also recite your own berakhot. Start simply, saying: “Barukh atah Adonai for (the object of your gratitude) ”
By taking just a few moments out of each day to give thanks for the goodness of our lives, each of us can work to ensure that our thanksgiving celebration becomes an ongoing event.
