Later today, a small group of Jewish community leaders will be meeting with Rep. Maxine Dexter to discuss her recent comments and vote. We appreciate her making time to meet with us so quickly. We look forward to the conversation and the opportunity to hear each other's views.

"Thanksgiving is a very important holiday. Ours was the first country in the world to make a national holiday to give thanks."

Linus from Peanuts

Did you know the first “Hebrew Thanksgiving” took place on November 28, 1765? Governor Samuel Ward declared a day of Thanksgiving for the colony of Rhode Island and Isaac Touro decided to combine Jewish tradition with contemporary culture. Touro was was Jewishly educated, but not educated enough to be a rabbi. He delivered a “Thanksgiving sermon” in the new Touro Synagogue praising King George III for protecting Newport’s Jews.

In his sermon, Touro asked God for peace in the land and a peace among all states and rulers. He asked for God’s compassion and mercy, and to prosper “our most gracious Sovereign, King George III, and all the Royal family.” He also prayed for God to preserve the whole British Empire.

Since 1658, Newport had been a haven for Jews who escaped the Portuguese and Spanish inquisitions. Rhode Island, after all, had been founded on the principle of religious tolerance. By 1758, the Jewish population had grown and permanent house of worship was needed. They built the synagogue in 1763. Interestingly, the building has a trap door under the bimah, the platform used for Torah readings. It was included as a reminder of the need to flee from soldiers during the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal.

I hope tomorrow you will be sitting with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. This is a time for each of us to be thankful for the blessings in our life. Too often, we get caught up in our daily minutiae and miss out on the big picture – the beauty around us and those who provide so much meaning and joy in our lives. Take advantage tomorrow to sit back and be thankful. I know I will. 

In fact, tomorrow is not only Thanksgiving, but also my 31^st wedding anniversary. What an amazing feeling to love and be loved by such a beautiful and supportive person. Thank you, Sarah!

Here are a few things to think about as you cultivate an attitude of gratitude year-round, not just at Thanksgiving:

• Gratitude makes people more patient. 

• Instead of counting sheep, try counting your blessings. There are multiple studies showing that gratitude facilitates better sleep.

• So much of life is about giving, receiving, repaying benefits; that is why gratitude is so foundational and fundamental to human beings and to social life. It is a cycle of reciprocity.

• Practicing gratitude is linked to more resilience and optimism.

• Research shows kids who are grateful have better relationships growing up, increased happiness and life satisfaction, more emotional and social support, get higher grades, do better in school, are less envious, and less materialistic.

• In our consumer culture, rather than being resentful and worrying about what we do not have (or what we think we should have more of) let us focus on all the wonderful things we do have — especially our relationships with those who enrich our lives every day!

Moreover, our Jewish tradition teaches us to express gratitude as part of our daily life and spiritual practice. Here are some significant blessings of gratitude:

• Modeh Ani: Our morning prayer recited upon waking. It expresses gratitude to God for returning one's soul to them. 

• Birkat Hamazon: The grace after meals, thanking God for the food we have consumed. It has several parts that express appreciation for the land, the food, and God's commandments.

• Shehechiyanu: A blessing recited on special occasions, acknowledging the joy of experiencing something for the first time or something that happens infrequently. 

 

• Blessings before eating: Generally Jews say a blessing before eating, thanking God for the food.

These blessings and practices help instill a sense of gratitude and mindfulness in our everyday lives. I believe President John F. Kennedy understood this when he said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the return of Dror Or, the final hostage kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Be'eri. Only two hostages remain in Gaza -- Ran Gvili and Sudthisak Rinthalak -- we hope they will be returned soon.

In keeping with the tradition of giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for all the wonderful people who allow me to share my life with them: my family, my friends, my colleagues, and people like you. I am extremely thankful for the privilege of doing what I do and for having so many thoughtful and caring people in my life. Remember -- express your thanks and gratitude to those around you!

Best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and an early Shabbat shalom.

PS -- Please note that our office will be closed on Thursday and Friday so our professional team can enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.