A few reflections before the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us....
You may want to see Gen. 24:52 and RaSHI ad loc. as well as the surrounding material for reference.
I will be away this weekend in Great Barrington on our annual Confirmation Class Retreat at the URJ Eisner Camp, but I'll be eager to follow your comments on the blog!
With warm wishes as the weather turns cold....
Rabbi Jonathan Blake
Rabbi Blake, what a beautiful teaching. Two thoughts occur to me on this impending Thanksgiving holiday.
ReplyDelete1. Ess a bissel over Thanksgiving, maybe even more than a bissel. I thought cameras made us look wider than we are; but, you’re looking thin...my grandmother, z”l, would have a (delicious) field day with you… :)
2. We Jews should be naturals at giving thanks. As Jews, we are Yehudim, likely derived from Yehuda, or Judah, one of Yaakov’s and Leah’s sons, the progenitor of David, or from Eretz Yehuda, the Land of Judah. If you’ll permit me to jump ahead two parashiyot:
“She [Leah] became pregnant again and bore a son,
And said:
This time I will give thanks to YHWH!
Therefore she called his name Yehuda/Giving Thanks.
Then she stopped giving birth.”
[Source: E. Fox, The Five Books of Moses, Gen 29:35]
But, in my experience, many of us don’t articulate our thanks to our fellow man often enough. We mean what we say even less frequently. And, we articulate our heartfelt thanks to God even more infrequently. Note, I am aware of some linguistic debate over the derivation of Yehuda. But, to me, the Torah text would seem to give us an indisputable etymology.
As Rabbi Blake said, blessings and thanks are said in our prayers and before and after meals. But, we all have so much more to be grateful for.
Who out there is familiar enough with Psalms or other writings to suggest a couple readings to add moment to our Thanksgiving celebrations?
DavidS
I'm just looking for an alternative reading to Leviticus VII verses 11-15...Psalm 107 is a contender.
ReplyDeleteRashi points out that the above passage is highly relevant to our celebration...it is only that I am looking for something that will engage ALL of the people around our table.
Rashi on Lev 7:12
"If he is bringing it as a thanksgiving-offering: i.e., if [he is bringing the offering] to give thanks [to God] for a miracle that had happened to him, for instance, those who made a sea-voyage [and returned safely] or journeyed in the desert, or those who had been imprisoned [and were subsequently released], or a sick person who recovered. All these are required to give thanks [to God], for regarding them, it is written, “They shall give thanks to the Lord for His kindness and for his wonders to the children of men. And they shall slaughter sacrifices of thanksgiving” (Ps. 107:21-22).
Source: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9908/showrashi/true
Perhaps I should seek thanksgiving liturgy?
David
Psalm 100:
ReplyDeleteא מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה: הָרִיעוּ לַיהוָה, כָּל-הָאָרֶץ. 1 A Psalm of thanksgiving. Shout unto the LORD, all the earth.
ב עִבְדוּ אֶת-יְהוָה בְּשִׂמְחָה; בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו, בִּרְנָנָה. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
ג דְּעוּ-- כִּי יְהוָה, הוּא אֱלֹהִים:
הוּא-עָשָׂנוּ, ולא (וְלוֹ) אֲנַחְנוּ-- עַמּוֹ, וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ. 3 Know ye that the LORD He is God; {N}
it is He that hath made us, and we are His, His people, and the flock of His pasture.
ד בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו, בְּתוֹדָה--חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה; הוֹדוּ-לוֹ, בָּרְכוּ שְׁמוֹ. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; give thanks unto Him, and bless His name.
ה כִּי-טוֹב יְהוָה, לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ; וְעַד-דֹּר וָדֹר, אֱמוּנָתוֹ. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy endureth for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations. {P}
If you would like an example of how this would be a good choice for all at your table on a day of giving thanks, take a few minutes to view this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnfbLUI1jqY
Perhaps it is not in finding the just right psalm, rather that we Pause Silently Acknowlegding Loving Moments.
May your table be a bounty of all that brings you joy.
In peace,
Jaira
Thank you, Jaira.
ReplyDeleteDavid
David, you ask for a suggestion which Psalm to recite. I suggest you read ALL of them, in one long sitting. And try to get as many congregants as are willing to do it in assembly.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, as you say, "we articulate our heartfelt thanks to God ... infrequently." Psalms, after all, in Hebrew means "Praises", and each chapter praises God.
The infrequent praise of God you speak of reflects the attitude Americans have for their parents as well, whom I'm sure they love, but, unlike the obligation to honor them that we Jews have all year round, they only make of it an issue once a year. Just as everyday should be Mother's and Father's day, literally, everyday should also be Giving Thanks to God day. Don't you think every breath we take is worth it?
In fact, Jews begin their waking hours with thanks with their first cognizant breath the moment they arise. They say the 13-word "Modeh Ani" prayer, where the word Modeh means "I thank you ... ". It shares the very same root word with the word Yehuda, which you quoted above so fittingly.
Kol tuv!
Thank you, InTheVan. I agree with you. But, let me rephrase my Q as I infer you are well versed in the Psalms and in rabbinic writings/liturgy on thanks.
ReplyDeleteIn my family, we celebrate the American Thanksgiving holiday. It is a large family gathering with lots of joy and good food. There are certainly many opportunities to say thanks as part of the daily prayers and blessings before and after food/drink. But, in my family, we also are navigating very challenging health waters. Be'ezrat haShem, we are succeeding in the battle; but, we have a ways to go. I am seeking a meaningful psalm or prayer for us as a family to share together around the table.
Psalm 100 seems excellent for thanksgiving generally. Psalm 107 gives us a taxonomy of thanks, with 4 categories to be thankful for, including recovering from illness. Are you aware of other prayers which I may be able to use?
DavidS
The secret to good health is to eat less to maintain good health, and the older we get, even less than before. Of course it follows, the older we get, the more our intake must be nutritious. If salads were until now a side dish, they should become a main dish.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the number one cause of ill health in man?
The answer, from The Code of Jewish Law (chpt 32, law 3), may surprise you: "Most disease suffered by man comes from, and from none other than, bad foods, or from filling his belly even with good foods." Note the strong tenor of the assertion. This ruling is based on Maimonides who stated (De'ot 4, 15), "Most illnesses that afflict man are caused by harmful foods or by overeating, even of healthful foods."
And, continues the Code of Jewish law, implying a question; Which is worse; A little bad food. or much of good food? The answer is - a little of bad food.
David, I could offer you good (free) medical consultation, if you wish to take it from me, so let me know.
Thanks for the offer, InTheVan. Right now, I confess I am most interested in a carefully selected prayer or psalm to channel our thanks around the table and to lift up some spirits that have taken some heavy beatings of late.
ReplyDeleteDavidS
Shabbat shalom to all.
ReplyDeleteI found Psalm 128 perfect for our gathering. In particular, our cantor referred me to an excellent website with a translation of Psalm 128 that worked especially well for my family.
http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/song-ascents
DavidS