Thoughts for Thanksgiving

As Americans gather around their table to celebrate Thanksgiving, this year will be challenging to feel the feelings of gratitude generally associated with this time of year. With the political realities on both the Right and the Left changing and Jew hatred rising on nearly a daily basis the air is heavy and it's hard to get into the headspace of gratitude in 2025. The reality is that no matter how challenging the environment is, we never lose the opportunity to express our gratitude. There is a fascinating insight on gratitude from next week's Parsha that I believe addresses this point. After the birth of her first child, Rachel names the baby Yosef. The stated reason for this is that G-d has spared me from shame. The basic understanding is that she has been spared from shame because now she has finally been blessed to have a child after being barren for many years. Rashi, in his commentary, offers a bizarre explanation in the name of a Midrash. The comment is that Rachel would have to take responsibility for various mishaps around the house prior to having a baby. Mishaps such as who broke the dish or ate the snacks would leave Rachel feeling sheepish when her husband would come home. With the arrival of a baby in the home, there was now someone to blame for these mishaps. Hence, G-d had spared her shame. The Midrash is incredulous with this interpretation! It reflects an incredible shallow perspective on our revered matriarch, Rachel! After the amazing blessing of bringing a new life into the world, Rachel is thankful for something so mundane! Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, in his commentary, offers insight on this passage in particular and on gratitude in general. One doesn't need to be seeking macro and life-changing occurrences for one to express gratitude over. Granted, when those blessings occur in life it is appropriate to be grateful. However, one should seek to identify minor or even mundane happenings in our daily life to show our appreciation and gratitude. Tamara Levitt, a well-known meditation and mindfulness instructor in her masterclass on the Calm app, suggests doing an exercise whenever you find yourself caught up in negativity or seem to need a dose of gratitude called the Gratitude Countdown. She offered the following ten examples of everyday reasons in her won life for her to be grateful: 1)The comforting bowl of miso soup I had for dinner. 2)The fact that I live close to a park where I can breathe fresh air and enjoy a daily dose of nature. 3)A local tailor was able to fix the zipper on my 25-year-old irreplaceable coat. 4)The voicemail I received this morning from my nephew. 5)The subway system I use to zip across the city to do errands. 6)The birds I heard chirping cheerfully outside my window this morning. 7)The marvel of modern communication and the ease it helps me stay in touch with friends and family. 8)My incredible job and the privilege of doing meaningful work. 9)My network of friends and the support I feel from friendships. 10)My mediation practice helps me stay grounded in the world. This list is particular to her life, but I was struck by how ordinary these items seemed. This year more than ever, let us make a choice to seek out and identify simple things in life for which to be grateful. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Walking Between the Raindrops

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun". These words were written by King Solomon about three thousand years ago. Sometimes we fantasize that painful and tragic moments from previous eras will never be repeated, and we are surprised when ominous indicators appear on our radar. It was about 90 years ago in the United States, when Charles Coughlin, a Canadian-born Catholic priest, electrified the radio airwaves with his rhetoric filled with overt Jew hatred. It is estimated that Coughlin had about 40 million weekly listeners who were glued to their radios, only too eager to digest the poison that he espoused. Coughlin was one of the key figures during the America First nationalist wave of the 30’s that successfully influenced the American government to be neutral in the days leading up to and in the beginning of the Holocaust. We all know too well how that ended. ​ We are living in interesting times amid a new and different America First movement. To be sure, there are versions of this ideology that are not hostile to the Jews and their ancestral homeland. After several years in word and deed, President Trump has demonstrated that one can be a champion of America First and be a friend and ally to Israel and the Jewish People. However, the next generation is emerging, and many of them have made clear that, in their viewpoint, America First and Israel First are mutually exclusive. The traditional view that America stood by Israel because of shared values is now being undermined not only on the left but more recently in the circles on the right. The center is dangerously shrinking and becoming lonelier. One of the most influential podcasters on the right, whose name I cannot bear to mention, has tens of millions of followers who listen and are influenced by his rhetoric. One of the positions the podcaster champions is that no U.S. citizen should be allowed to serve in the IDF, as that would constitute a lack of loyalty. He does not share the same position if anyone is a dual citizen of a country other than Israel. Most recently, the podcaster hosted an infamous Nazi sympathizer on his show and offered little pushback. The Heritage Foundation, a revered think tank in the Conservative movement, refused to distance itself from this podcaster. ​ One of the blessings for American Jews for the vast majority of its time in the United States has been the liberty of not needing to choose to be a loyal American and a proud Jew who is connected to Israel. There are cracks in the armor that indicate an unwelcome change might be coming. ​ In this week's parsha, our patriarch Avraham identifies himself as a “newcomer and a resident.” It would appear to be a contradictory way of describing oneself. If you are a foreigner, then you are not a resident, and vice versa. Avraham was teaching us that we must embrace this dual identity. Yes, we are loyal citizens to the host country, and we have a covenantal relationship with G-d for over 3,000 years. Both ideologies are aligned with one another and not mutually exclusive. ​ As Jews, we live with PTSD from our collective past. Some Jews always make sure to have valid passports, as you can never be sure. Even if someone else might think that it is an overreaction, one must not delude oneself into thinking that all is ok. While the mediums of communication have changed from the radio to the online world and its social media offerings, human nature and its weaknesses remain the same. Sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking that we can just wait until the storm passes. More often than not, the Jewish story has conditioned us to keep dancing between the raindrops. Have Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

The Hostages Teach us About Shabbos

As the freed hostages from captivity in Gaza continue to recount their stories of how they survived about two years in the most horrific and vile conditions, they are telling us about what sustained them. It was faith in G-d that gave them the strength to cope with this hell on earth. Several of the hostages strengthened their commitment to Shabbos in captivity. Eli Sharabi, in interviews and in his book, has said that they would make kiddush every Friday night on a cup of water. They would sing the songs Shalom Aleichem and Aishes Chayil before making Kiddush. Bar Kupershtein, another freed hostage, retells how he and his fellow hostages would raise their voices in the tunnels and sing all the prayers on Friday night. ​ There are many layers to this most extraordinary display of faith and conviction. One of the lessons for all of us is to redouble our own connection in any way that we can. This applies to everyone, no matter how Shabbos-observant or not; one may practice throughout the year. This year, we are once again proud to partner with the Kollel to bring the Shabbos Project to our community. Several years ago, the Shabbos Project began modestly and has since grown into a major global movement. The 2025 Shabbat Project will unite Jews from all walks of life across 1,500 cities and 100 countries to celebrate Shabbat in a spirit of joy and unity. In Israel alone, more than one million people are expected to take part. ​ Here in Jacksonville, over the course of the Shabbos Project, many people have kept the entire Shabbos for the first time. This year, we salute and honor everyone’s commitment to Shabbos, especially those who are coming to our neighborhood to experience the entire Shabbos. ​ As there is increased turmoil and external threats to our people, including the United States, it is so important to turn inward and be strengthened by the power of faith and Shabbos. Bar Kupershtein, upon his release, said his motto that kept him alive for 738 days in the closest thing to hell on earth was knowing he was always in the hands of the Creator of the world. Our commitment and relationship with Shabbos is a declaration to the world that we are always in the hands of the Creator of the world. Now more than ever, we need to once again make that declaration, loud and proud. ​ Have a Peaceful Shabbos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch