Whenever I used to thank my Grandpa Joe, he’d reply, “Don’t thank Grandpa!” Then I’d say, “well—thank you anyway,” and we’d both laugh. Here’s what I think he meant: “It’s my pleasure to be able to do something for my grandson—don’t bother with the ‘thanks.’” One of our commentators, Rabbi Eliezer Davidovits (1878-1942) my cousin of blessed memory, makes a similar point in his interpretation of Psalm 107:8 where we read: יוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ “Let them praise the ETERNAL on account of God’s love; for God’s wondrous deeds for humanity!” The question Rabbi Davidovits asks is why would God need our words of thanks at all? While we might wish to be thanked for the kindnesses we show others, God is beyond all words of thanksgiving or praise. God doesn’t need our words or our thanks so why bother? Rabbi Davidovits teaches that the purpose of offering words of [...]

“One is obligated to recite a blessing for the bad just as one recites a blessing for the good, as it is stated (in Deuteronomy 6:5): ‘And you shall love the ETERNAL your God with all your heart.’” (Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 54a)  Our sages read the source text from Deuteronomy expansively: loving God with ALL your heart means with everything you’ve got, in good times and bad. While we are still faced with many challenges, I think we would all agree that this Thanksgiving feels much more “thankful” than last. Because of vaccines and better understanding of how COVID-19 is transmitted, many of us will be gathering in person with family and friends to celebrate the holiday. The wisdom of the text from the Talmud reminds us that whatever comes our way, no matter how challenging or hopeful the moment is, we must find a way to say “thanks” with [...]

Ben Zoma said… Who is rich? Those who are satisfied with what they have. בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר… אֵיזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר, הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ (Pirkei Avot 4:1) This two-thousand year old text connects deeply to the American holiday we celebrate this week. It’s really about gratitude. From the perspective of our tradition, to be wealthy is to be satisfied with what we have. One of the ways we can increase our sense of satisfaction is to pause regularly to give thanks for the bounty we enjoy. While there are worthy things that we might wish for, if we have our health, a roof over our heads, enough food to eat, and the love of family and friends, we—as my dad would put it—“have it made in the shade.” So let’s take time this week especially to reflect on the many ways in which we find satisfaction in our lives. When we consider how [...]

“...Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with beings divine and human, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:29) לֹ֤א יַעֲקֹב֙ יֵאָמֵ֥ר עוֹד֙ שִׁמְךָ֔ כִּ֖י אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־שָׂרִ֧יתָ עִם־אֱלֹהִ֛ים וְעִם־אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַתּוּכָֽל׃... In this week’s Torah portion Jacob gets a new name—Israel. The meaning of the name is a topic of great interest to the commentators and to us as well for we are b’nei Yisrael, the children of Israel. So what is the meaning of his and our name? The Torah verse suggests that to be Yisrael is to be one who “strives” or “wrestles” with God. Remember the context: Jacob goes to sleep the night before his dramatic and anxiety producing reunion with his brother Esau. Jacob is understandably nervous about their meeting since the last time they were together, some twenty years earlier, Esau vowed to kill him for tricking their father and stealing his blessing. During the night [...]