We’re taught to say a blessing when we wake up every morning. “Modeh Ani,” we say. Thank you, God, for returning my soul. And three times a day, we say a longer prayer of thanks, thanking God for the miracles that are always with us, morning, noon, and night.

But this year, there’s another traditional blessing that we need to say:

As for our brothers and sisters of the house of Israel
Who are in distress or captivity
May the Holy One have compassion on them
And lead them from distress to relief,
From darkness to light,
From oppression to freedom,
Now, swiftly, and soon.
And let us say, Amen!

How do we hold both of these prayers in our hearts? How do we hold the pain of our brothers and sisters in our hearts and at the time, give thanks for our lives?

Jewish prayer was never meant to be the opiate of the people. It was never meant to turn us into Pollyanna’s. Instead, prayer is meant to open us up to the complexity of life.

Prayer reminds us of the suffering in life, of the need to help others. And at the same time, it reminds us that no matter how bad life gets, we still have something to be thankful for. We have our lives, we have our breath, and most importantly, we have people who care for us, people who love us.

And perhaps that’s why Modim anachnu lach, the longer prayer of thanksgiving, is always said in the plural – to remind us that there is a “we” – that we here to help each other, that we are connected to the entire people Israel.

In less than a week from now, we’ll sit at our Thanksgiving tables. And for some of us, Thanksgiving will be difficult. Our brothers and sisters are being held captive. Innocent civilians are dying. And here at home, antisemitism is increasing.

But Judaism teaches that we can never despair. We must give thanks for everything we have, no matter how dark the world gets. And each of us must light a candle. Through our words, through our actions, through our compassion for others, we must work to build a better world.

If you have a mouth, speak. If you have legs, march to support Israel. If you have hands, write letters. And after all of those things are done, thank the One who gave you a mouth to speak, hands to take action, and arms to hug your loved ones.

We are never alone as long as God and our loved ones are with us. And for that, I give thanks.

Shabbat Shalom,
Art