CyberTorah

Blessings of Thanksgiving

I have always been a big fan of Thanksgiving. I love the way it unites all Americans around gratitude and family. It draws us together to notice the blessings of this country and of our lives. It is a moment—a moment we so desperately need—of national unity and appreciation.

For my family, Thanksgiving is the one American calendar holiday that we have wholeheartedly embraced. The meal is more from Carol’s family and gives her a moment where her heritage takes center stage. Thanksgiving also has a Shabbat-like quality for us, so that I am surprised when I can turn on the lights, or play some music when people are arriving.

Thanksgiving this year like so much else will be different. Yet I believe Thanksgiving can be a moment of national unity and a moment to reconnect with gratitude and a shared sense of purpose. With that in mind, a few thoughts:

1. Thanksgiving is about connecting with people you love. Even if you can’t be with those people physically, I suggest creating an opportunity around Thanksgiving to reach out. Zoom or phone are wonderful tools. Outdoor walks or sitting together in small groups is also a great way to reconnect and honor friendships and connections.

2. Gratitude. This has been a hard time for all of us and people have made great effort to make this time more tolerable and good. Perhaps write a letter to someone offering a class or event that you really like. Maybe a note to your grocery store clerk, or someone who has been making an extra effort to be in touch. I suggest one note each day of next week, with the exception of Shabbat.

3. Donate. Hunger has only gotten worse in our area. The economic impact of Covid has been very uneven. Some are devastated while others are just fine. I invite you to donate to Second Harvest or IsraAid. Carol and I have been delivering groceries every other Tuesday to people in need in Palo Alto. I see directly the importance and value of this work. They need our support more than ever.

4. Have a meal that is familiar and redolent of Thanksgiving. Whether you eat alone or with others, and whether you have a shared Zoom meal or not, I hope you can find the energy and capacity to make something special and celebratory. A smaller gathering can be an invitation to more reflection. Maybe you can discuss or meditate on healing at this time of brokenness.

I know it will be different, and I pray it can be healing for all of us. May God heal the brokenness and division that afflicts our land, and remind us all of deep wellsprings of gratitude and empathy.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Early Thanksgiving!

Rabbi David Booth