What's the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?

Do you know the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?  I don’t nor do I even especially like either.  They may be the same thing.  Maybe not.  You can discuss it at the Thanksgiving table.  (See here for a summary of the opinions as well as Stephen Colbert’s take on Thanksgiving table debates.)

I love Thanksgiving!

I know there have been articles written about whether Jews can or should celebrate Thanksgiving.  Does Thanksgiving have Christian origins or is it simply an American holiday devoted to the very universal ideal of gratitude? 

I don’t care.  Thanksgiving is as Jewish as apple pie is American! 

It is a day when all Americans can celebrate together.  It is a holiday when rabbis don’t have to give sermons or officiate at services.  It is a day when we can all have the festive meal and drive home afterwards.  

It is a day devoted to gratitude.  We need gratitude.

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” - G.K. Chesterton

Gratitude is at the core of who we are.  It is the source of so many values and good character traits.  Gratitude is central to happiness and satisfaction and an awareness of how good the world can be.

Jews are thankful people.  Literally.

We wake up with the words: Modeh ani – I give thanks.

Jews are called yehudim, which originates from the tribe of Yehudah (Judah).  Leah named her fourth son Yehudah because of her gratitude to God. 

Being a Yehudi (Jew) means being grateful and aware of just how much we have.

What do we have?

In this week’s Torah portion, we can gain a perspective in appreciating what we have.

Yaakov (Jacob) sends a gift to Esav (Esau) to placate him.  The reunion goes reasonably well.  Esav is impressed by the gift but resists accepting it by saying to Yaakov:  “I have a lot (yesh li rav); you keep what is yours.”

Yaakov insists that Esav accept the gift and says, “God has been gracious to me, and I have everything (yesh li kol).”  Esav then accepts the gift.

Here we see two mindsets.  Esav views what he has as being significant.  Maybe he is even grateful for having plenty, but there is still room for more.  Yaakov, however, is completely satisfied with what he has.  He needs nothing else for he has it all.

Rav versus Kol.  We can and should be grateful for having a lot, but can we be so grateful that having what we have is having it all?

We should try. 

Think about how much each of us has.  There is always room for more, but when we say thank you, can we view what we have as having it all?

What am I thankful for?  Just off the top of my head, here are a few things:

-                             Family

-                             Food (especially today’s turkey and stuffing)

-                             Friends

-                            State of Israel (where some people are celebrating Thanksgiving)

-                         Life having meaning and purpose

-                         Ability to help and make an impact on others

Thanksgiving affords us with an opportunity for a religious experience.  We say thank you every day and all the time.  Thanksgiving reinforces that Jewish responsibility while providing us a chance to ask ourselves:

What am I thankful for today on Thanksgiving and every day?  How can I best appreciate that having a lot is really having it all?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shaking Hands With History

I can’t say anything this week without referring to those murdered by terrorists in Israel.  See here for a list of names and some biographical information and here for some thoughts I shared when the Henkins were murdered. 

Especially powerful for me were the words of Aviad Don, son of murdered educator Rabbi Yaakov Don of Alon Shevut: “Teach me how to be optimistic at times like these.”

Even with pain in our hearts, we seek a way forward.

Jonathan Pollard was released from prison today.

While supporting his release was a hotly debated issue in the Jewish community throughout the years, recently, there was a consensus that Pollard had paid for his crimes (serving more time in jail than any other spy for a friendly country) and should be released on humanitarian grounds.

As a youngster, I remember being fascinated by the Pollard affair.  I read the book Pollard: The Spy’s Story written by Bernard Henderson, the father of Ann Pollard, Jonathan’s wife at the time of his arrest. 

Another way I connected to the story was that Jonathan Pollard’s sister lived in my hometown.  I knew her, and, through her, I felt a greater connection to something historic (or history in the making).

I mention this because, however one feels about the Pollard case, this is a historic moment.  A Jewish American spy for Israel, whose case was constantly an issue when American and Israeli leaders met, has now been released.  It is the end of an era.

We study history, and we remember history.  How often do we feel like we’re part of history?

Rabbi Marc Angel shared some reflections about Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool, the Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel for 63 years until his passing in 1970.  Rabbi Angel describes how he felt connected to history by connecting with this venerable rabbi:

When I shook Dr. Pool’s hand, I was shaking the hand of a great spiritual leader who had begun his service to Shearith Israel in 1907; he had taken over from Dr. Mendes who had begun service to Shearith Israel in 1877. I was one handshake away from 1877! And just a few more handshakes separated me from Rev. Gershom Mendes Seixas who had begun serving Shearith Israel in 1768. I felt the weight of centuries, the incredible continuity of a magnificent tradition.

It is important to reinforce our connections to history.  I believe that how strongly we feel bound to history will determine the future of the Jewish people.  If we feel connected to the past and responsible for carrying it forward to the next generation (so that one day we are the past), then Judaism will thrive.  If we do not feel the power and responsibility of the past, then it will be much harder for Judaism to move forward to the future.

Is Hashem a Boy or a Girl?

One of my favorite weekly activities is to teach a short Torah portion lesson to Ramaz third graders.  For a rabbi, it’s great for the self-esteem.  They listen attentively and think I have all the answers.  (The only better audience is Nursery students.  They think I’m a rock star!)

Kids ask the best questions!  Especially in the Torah portions of Bereishit, their questions touch at some of the most essential issues.  Was Avraham Jewish?  How did Sarah hear Hashem?  Why didn’t Yitzchak and Rivka talk to each other about who should receive the blessing?

Last week, I walked into the lunchroom while the third graders were eating lunch.  They saw me, and one shouted out, “Is Hashem a boy or a girl?”  It is just the type of question I expect from young students.  They are excited and have passion.

Do we?

Two weeks ago, I returned to my hometown (New Haven, CT) to attend the 70^th anniversary gala of my local day school, the Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy, where I was recognized as a distinguished alumnus.  Let’s just say, I am more grown up now, and both guys at the podium are much older than we used to be.

 

I was transported back more than 30 years ago to memories of the classroom, teachers, incidents, and questions.  And you know what?  It felt very good.  Those were the experiences that helped make me who I am.  Those are the formative experiences that have shaped us.

They also can continue to shape us if we let them.   

A few days ago, I met with a congregant, and we discussed a unique insight into Adam and Chava and the aftermath of their eating from the Tree of Knowledge.  The Torah says that “their eyes were opened.”  Daniel R. noted that, as we grow older, our eyes are opened to new perspectives and new ideas that make it difficult for us to recapture the innocence we had before that happens.  We don’t always appreciate those formative experiences when we were younger and life was simpler.

We need to close our eyes.  We need to transport ourselves back spiritually to when we were excited about the simple questions and sought out answers.

We should get in touch with our “inner child” or former student self.  We should return to basic yet important questions and see that they can reawaken within us that enthusiasm we used to have.  Why shouldn’t we have more of that today?

Take a look at your children or grandchildren or any children.  Try to see the world through their eyes and examine age-old questions through a fresh perspective.

Is Hashem a boy or a girl?  Why did Yitzchak love Esav while Rivkah loved Yaakov?  Was Avraham Jewish?   What’s on your mind?  What’s on our children’s minds?

Let us ask ourselves and each other the questions that will generate enthusiasm for a life filled with seeking meaningful answers.