Recently I spoke at Gail Borden Public Library on the topic of gratitude. It was a multi-generational, multi-lingual event. And a lot of fun. Here are my remarks:

I gratefully accepted a speaking engagement for our local, award winning public library, even though it is on a Saturday afternoon. And even during an exceptionally busy weekend. Or that Israel would have been attacked just a week ago. Can we find gratitude in the midst of a war? So thank you for the opportunity to teach a little bit about gratitude. That’s what rabbis do. We teach. 

Judaism has a lot to say about gratitude. The rabbis of the Talmud say tnat we should say 100 blessings a day. 100. Cien. That’s significantly more than the contemporary idea that we should make a list, a journal of 3 things we are grateful for before we go to sleep. You have the opportunity to do that, right here today. In the back of the room. I was grateful to be able to do my three in English and Spanish.  Comida. Agua. Vida. Food. Water. Life. I am grateful for Duolingo Spanish. And I am working on it!

When we wake up, we first sing Modah Ani, I thank you G-d for restoring my soul to me. So every body stretch, yawn, and be grateful that we are here, right here, right now.  

Our morning services help us begin to get there, with an ancient list of fifteen blessings. In the prayerbook that we use at Congregation Kneseth Israe, the list is on page 65.. They all follow the same formula. Praised are You who… A blessing is something we are grateful for, that we are praising G-d and thanking G-d for.  

The first one says “Praised are You, Adonai our G-d who rule the universe enabling us to distinguish day from night. If you know the Hebrew it really says who gives wisdom to the rooster. Because a rooster crows to wake us up. Everybody crow. Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

All of these blessings are about waking up in the morning. Opening our eyes, putting on clothes, getting out of bed, One in particular I want to underscore, Praised are You who frees the captive. It is something we pray for every morning. 

But the list can feel a little too perfoma, a little too trite. So if we were building a list of 100 things, what would you put on the list. We’ll take that list and inscribe them on a pumpkin and use it as a centerpiece for Elgin’s annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, November 19 at 4:00 PM. 

(Build list) 

We have a prayer that expresses our thanksgiving. Modim Anachnu Lach. Sometimes while I am leading this prayer, I say to myself, just come up with one thing that I am grateful for, just one thing.  

This has been a hard week. But I remain grateful. 

Here’s my list. Today. 

1. I am grateful for the number of people who have reached out to me personally or to the congregation. That list alone could be 100 at this stage. Each of you is a blessing and someone I am grateful for.  

1. I am grateful for the Elgin Police Department who has vowed to keep us safe and keeps showing up. Often more than one officer in the parking lot of the synagogue. 

1. I am grateful for the board member who brought me kleenex when I choked up during my sermon this morning. 

1. I am grateful for modern technology and communications that enables us to keep informed and connected. 

1. I am grateful for Congressman Raja’s office who is working to get Americans out of Israel and Gaza. 

1. I am grateful for the weddings, the B’nei Mitzvah, the brises that happened this week, here and in Israel. These bring me hope. 

1. I am grateful for a young person who led part of the service and an intellectually challenged woman who read. These are generation to generation moments. 

1. I am grateful for the smile of that little one in the back of the room. Her smile, her giggles, her wave delights me and brings me hope. 

1. I am grateful for the colors of autumn, intensified on this cloudy, raw, rainy day. It is beautiful.  

1. I am grateful for the library, the symphony, Elgin’s diversity and commitment to welcoming all people. Our elected officials, even the ones I don’t always agree with.  

These blessings don’t fit in that traditional formula…but I am grateful nonetheless. They bring me hope. You all bring me hope.