As Jews, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. The United States of America has provided, and continues to provide, freedom and liberty enabling us to practice Judaism, celebrate our faith, and express out religious identity.
It is in this spirit that during the Thanksgiving season we should ask ourselves: “Am I fully ‘taking advantage’ of this freedom? Under religious persecution my ancestors tried their utmost to preserve our traditions and rituals – am I?”
As Senator Joseph Lieberman wrote in Chabad’s Farbrengen Magazine: “Our forefathers promised freedom of religion, not freedom from religion”.
Over this weekend - Let us not only SAY thank you to G‑d. Let be ACT thankfully. How? By committing ourselves to fulfilling one more mitzvah we, in effect, are saying ‘thank you’ and giving thanks for the precious gift of freedom that we cherish daily.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick