Clergy Blog

Dear Friends,

To be Jewish is to be one who gives thanks.

In the coming weeks, we'll read about Leah giving birth to her fourth son—more children than she expected—and her first response is gratitude. She names him Judah (in Hebrew, Yehudah): "I will thank." Being Jewish literally means being someone who expresses gratitude, someone who recognizes blessing and says it out loud.

With Thanksgiving approaching, I've been taking stock.

The vast majority of the hostages are finally home. Families who waited through impossible months got to hold their loved ones again. Others received the painful closure they needed.

Our broader community has shown up for us, again and again—particularly our partners in faith here in Livingston and Short Hills, and our local law enforcement. The Livingston Police Department has kept our temple safe more times than I can count. The county prosecutor checks in regularly, sometimes on specific concerns, sometimes just to make sure we're okay.

I'm grateful for our volunteers who poured themselves into this week's fall marketplace fundraiser, and for our Social Action Committee volunteers making sure families in Newark will have enough to eat for Thanksgiving.

The Hebrew phrase hakarat hatov means recognizing the good. Not manufacturing gratitude. Not performing it. Just seeing clearly what's already here, what's already bringing goodness into our lives.

As we approach Thanksgiving, let's orient ourselves toward recognizing the good, the gifts, the blessings. Let's be true to who we are.

If you don't yet have a place for Thanksgiving, or if you have extra seats at your table, please let me know, so that we can be sure that everyone has a place at which to be for this holiday.

And this Sunday at 5 PM, come support the community that's been so good to us. The Livingston Clergy Association is hosting its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Temple Beth Shalom. It's one of my favorite gatherings of the year.

Shabbat shalom,

Dave