From the Cantor - November 1998

At this time of year many people question whether Thanksgiving is a Jewish Holiday. Let us first ask: Is it particularly Jewish to say Thank You? it's certainly polite, not to mention mandatory in my family's book.

We say Thank You to God when we open our eyes in the morning: Modeh/Modah ani l'fanekhah...I give thanks before You, who has returned my soul to me. And it is the way in which we prepare to close the Amidah, the central prayer in our liturgy: Modim anachnu lach...(We thank You).

Words are as important as deeds to us, but it is also by our actions that we say Thank You. Performing acts of tzedakah is our way of saying Thank You by using the gifts and strengths we have been given in order to help those less fortunate. Ideally, those we have helped may better their lives until they, too, can say Thank You by helping yet another party in need.

So I would say that Thanksgiving has indeed become a fine and appropriate occasion on which Jews, among others, can give thanks in many ways. I would like to invite you to this year's Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, hosted by Congregation Albert, on Thursday, November 26 at 10:00 a.m. Rabbi Black and I, the Zamir and HaShirah will be joined by the clergy and choirs of Monte Vista Christian and Trinity United Methodist Churches. This Thanksgiving, let's all say Todah Rabbah together in prayer and in song.

B'shalom u'v'shir,

Cantor Jacqueline L. Shuchat-Marx

Previous Bulletin Page
November 1998 Bulletin Home Page
Next Bulletin Page