25 Nov THANK YOU HASHEM

Growing up, I would come home from school
with stories of the Pilgrims and Indians
joining together for a Thanksgiving feast. My
mother would say that for a Jew, every day is
Thanksgiving Day. From the moment we
wake up, before we even step out of bed, the
words of Modeh Ani are on our lips. Words of
thanks. A prayer of gratitude.
Modeh Ani – Thank You HaShem.
Unfortunately, we don’t always concentrate
on the words. Sometimes, we wake up bleary
eyed, still in need of some sleep, and the
words are mumbled in a daze. At other times,
there is the hectic morning rush; leaving to
work, early appointments, getting kids out to
school, and we do a speedy job on Modeh Ani.
Either way, we say the words without
internalizing their meaning.
Modeh Ani l’fanecha… I am grateful to
HaShem for a new day. While the word
modeh, is closely tied to the words hoda’ah
and todah, expressions of thankfulness and
gratitude, modeh also means to acknowledge.
For, by saying thank you, we acknowledge the
good bestowed upon us.
Sheh’heh’cheh’zarta bee nishmasee – Who

has returned my soul to me. Every night, our
soul ascends to the Heavens above, and is
returned to us upon rising. Nishmasee – my
soul. A soul personalized for each individual,
made to bring out the best in each one of us,
and help us overcome whatever hurdles the
day may bring.
B’chemla – with kindness and compassion.
While our soul may be tainted, HaShem
returns it to us each morning cleansed and
pure, ready for a new day. Rabba emunasecha
– how great is HaShem’s faith in us. A faith so
strong, that HaShem gifts us another day to do
and accomplish.
A small, but inspiring prayer. When our day
starts with a heartfelt Modeh ani, it takes on a
new trajectory. Everything looks brighter and
better.
In Tehillim, Dovid HaMelech writes, “Tov
l’hodos l’HaShem, It is good to thank
HaShem.” Gratitude is good for our very
being. To focus on the blessings in our lives,
rather than dwelling on the problems and
aggravations. The pasuk concludes, “L’hagid
ba’boker chasdecha, v’emunascha ba’leilos,
To say Your praise in the morning, and to have
faith at night.” (Tehillim 118:1) When we live
with an attitude of gratitude, it serves us well,

not only in the “daytime”, when light
shines and all is good, but it
strengthens us at “night”, during
times of darkness and difficulty.
This week’s parsha, Vayeitzei, tells us
of Leah, who turned to HaShem with
words of gratitude, upon the birth of
her fourth son. Leah named him
Yehuda, saying “ha’pa’am odeh ess
HaShem, this time I will thank
HaShem.” (Bereishis 29:35)
Four sons. Four future shevatim. Leah realizes
how truly fortunate she was. She concentrated
on the brachos in her life, instead of the
difficulties. She could have been disillusioned,
depressed, even angry and bitter. After all, she
was living in Rochel’s shadow, knowing that
her sister was Yaakov’s first choice as a life
partner. Instead of walking around with a chip
on her shoulder, comparing her life to
Rochel’s, Leah concentrated on the blessings
in her own life, the bracha of children.
Rabbi Yochanan says, “From the day that
HaShem created the world, no one thanked
Him, until Leah came and thanked HaShem
upon giving birth to Yehudah. (Talmud
Berachos, 7b). Though others before Leah
expressed gratitude to HaShem, it was Leah
who lived in a state of constant thankfulness,
with an attitude of gratitude.
Despite all the pain she endured, Leah chose
to thank HaShem. She named her son
Yehuda, from the word hoda’ah. As a nation,
we are called Yehudim, a people who give
thanks, who appreciate the blessings in life.
Who understand that thankfulness is not just
words of expression, but defines who we
are.
Leah teaches to live a life of thankfulness.
To want what you have. There will always
be someone with more, better, nicer.
Someone with a more luxurious home, a
more up-to-date kitchen, a more extravagant
wardrobe, a more impressive car, or taking
more exotic vacations. It’s toxic to be
measuring and comparing to others. Count
your blessings, and be grateful for what you
do have.
And in my own life, I was blessed to see
Leah’s approach to gratitude embodied in
my maternal grandmother, Rebbetzin
Miriam bas HaRav Tzvi Hirsch HaKohein
a”h, who’s yahrtzeit is on the sixth of Kislev,
which this year was November 26. Like our
matriarch Leah, Mama was appreciative of
everything around her. She didn’t have the
easiest of lives, yet saw every day as a gift
from HaShem.
Mama loved children, all children. To her,
each one was special. Each one a proof that,
even after the Holocaust, our nation stands
strong and is thriving.
During the summer months, Mama often

joined us at our bungalow upstate. At that
time, our bungalow was quite small – one
bedroom (which I shared with three children)
and a kitchen. Mama would sleep in the
kitchen, and get up early in the morning, with
the biggest smile, ready to take my baby out
for a walk. She was happy just to look at
HaShem’s world around her. To listen to the
birds, watch the sun rise and take in the scent
of the pine trees. Mama’s greatest pleasure
was watching the children in the colony,
especially all the babies. She had true Yiddishe
nachas just seeing a new generation. Mama
didn’t see a small bungalow; she saw a
beautiful world. She taught me a lesson in
appreciation.
On one occasion, Mama joined our family on
a trip to FAO Schwartz. She didn’t know
where to look first. The stuffed animals, the
dolls, the toy cars and trucks, the likes of
which she had never seen growing up in
Hungary. It was only a trip to a toy store, but
for Mama it was a grand experience. Mama
loved life, and the world around her. Every
day brought a new experience to be grateful
for. Mama couldn’t stop thanking me.
I was sharing Mama memories with my Aunt
Goldie, who told me of a time that she was
driving on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn with
Mama in the car. “How beautiful the street is”,
Mama exclaimed. Ocean Parkway…
beautiful? my aunt thought. As if reading her
mind, Mama added, “Just look at all the trees
lining the street. It’s truly beautiful”.
To look at the world with Mama eyes. To see
its beauty wherever you go.
In an article by Joel Rebibo, he quotes a
powerful statement from Rav Avigdor
Nebenzahl, former Chief Rabbi of the Old
City of Yerushalayim. “In order for the heart
to be overflowing with gratitude over what I
have in my life, it doesn’t matter how much I
have. The main thing is how much I appreciate
what I have.” (Hamodia Prime, 12 Tishrei
5781)
Yes, every day is a Thanksgiving Day. For
those who will be sitting down to a
Thanksgiving dinner, make it a time of
gratitude. Remember the brachos in your life.
Brachos that are not to be taken for granted,
but to thank HaShem for. Not merely a generic
“I am grateful for…”, but a sincere and
meaningful “Thank You, HaShem”.