This Year, a Meaningful Thanksgiving
Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker
November 25, 2008
As we assemble to give thanks for the many blessings which we have experienced this last year, and as we daydream sweet thoughts of the pleasure we will experience later this week while gathered with friends and family for a traditional or other type of festive dinner, we should pause for a moment and consider just how blessed we are. Of course, we all feel the bite of the economic recession. None of us relish paying high taxes on top of high mortgages, and we all worry that the current economic storms are far from ended. We may have problems with our business or maybe with our families. Some of us may have health problems, and those are real problems indeed; but, by and large, we all have reasons for being thankful for God´s blessings, especially as they concern our material welfare.
However, for a few moments today, try to consider what life is like for Mr. or Ms. Average-World-Citizen. In order to this, one must be imaginative. First, one must abandon almost all of his/her possessions. One may keep ten dollars and some old work clothes, the old worktable from the garage, and two or three worn-out chairs, plus two worn-out mattresses with the springs broken and an old bed. Also, keep a few old vegetables, some rotten potatoes, and a few pieces of moldy bread. Abandon all motor vehicles, but keep that old rusty bicycle that´s in the cellar. Ten-speeds are not allowed, nor are mountain bikes. Now, move into the garage if it is old and has a leaking roof, but if it´s new or has space for two or more cars, knock it down to size, replacing the torn-out wall with plastic sheeting, rusting tin-plate, or cardboard. Add a few posters for charm or local color, if desired. Now, assemble all the children and the pets, as well as the chickens, goats and/or pigs, and move into that shack. Be it ever so humble—and Mr. and Ms. Average-World-Citizen, believe me, it is humble—it´s home. One more thing: get used to that feeling of hunger, because it will be the closest companion for the remainder of one´s all-too-short life.
If this view of life appears dismal and depressing, be thankful that it is not the reality of life for you. But don´t forget that it is not a figment of the imagination, either. Most of the world´s population lives that way—in a state of ignorance, poverty, and dire want. Nearly one third of the world´s babies die of malnutrition before they reach the age of five. Think: every third child destined to die by age five for lack of an adequate diet. In real terms that means that while sitting reading this article, hundreds, if not thousands, of children are dying due to malnutrition. And meanwhile we continue to dream about the butterball—or Empire Kosher—turkey, the candied yams, the stuffing, and the cranberry sauce, all topped off with pumpkin pie a la mode, or for some of us, tofutti pareve ice cream.
The average world citizen would consider the foods which we throw away as incredible feasts. For that matter, our pets—and even such scavengers as rats—eat better here in America than the malnourished millions and millions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We Americans contain in our clothes-closets—counting only the fashions of this year—more clothes than an individual from a Third World country will see in his or her entire lifetime. If one travels to the slums of Hong Kong-Kowloon, Calcutta, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Cairo, he/she can´t believe the sights confronting the eyes. Likewise, such is the view in the slums of Mexico, and—if we are honest enough to admit it—parts of our own country as well. People are dying daily for want of the proverbial crust of bread. Is this unpleasant, distressing, revolting, causing the stomach to turn?—maybe. But it´s true none-the-less. The image that I have just painted will fade from before our eyes as we move on to another subject. But for most of the world, the image does not disappear—it is the image of reality. Only death will wipe this grim view from before their eyes. Only death….
This week we thank God for the many blessings bestowed upon us. Indeed, when we realize how fortunate we are to live in this country, relatively free from poverty and hunger, we cannot but thank our Divine Creator. Yet, if we pause to consider our special debt to God for sparing us such misery while billions of our fellow human beings are suffering and dying from malnutrition, we cannot help but recall the aid we owe them as fellow members of the human family. They are our sisters and brothers. The prophet Malachi reminds us of our duty when he speaks to us: "HAVE WE NOT ALL ONE PARENT? HAS NOT ONE GOD CREATED US? WHY THEN ARE WE FAITHLESS TO ONE ANOTHER, PROFANING THE COVENANT OF OUR ANCESTORS?" (Malachi 2:10)
Another prophet, Isaiah, reminds us what it is that God wants us to do:
"IS THIS NOT THE FAST THAT I CHOOSE: TO LOOSE THE BONDS OF WICKEDNESS, TO UNDO THE THONGS OF THE YOKE, TO LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND TO BREAK EVERY YOKE? IS IT NOT TO SHARE YOUR BREAD WITH THE HUNGRY, AND BRING INTO YOUR HOUSE THE HOMELESS POOR? WHEN YOU SEE THE NAKED TO COVER HIM, AND HIDE NOT YOURSELF FROM YOUR OWN FLESH?"(Isaiah 58:6-7)
Turning for a moment to the writings of the New Testament, we find sage advice in the good words of James:
"IF A BROTHER OR A SISTER IS ILL-CLAD AND IN LACK OF DAILY FOOD, AND ONE OF YOU SAYS TO THEM, ´GO IN PEACE, AND BE WARMED AND FILLED´, WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE THINGS NEEDED FOR THE BODY, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT? SO FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT HAS NO WORKS IS DEAD. …FOR AS THE BODY APART FROM THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, SO FAITH APART FROM WORKS IS DEAD, ALSO." (James 2:15-17, 26)
And finally the admonition of R. Tarphon from the Talmud: "YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE TASK, BUT NEITHER ARE YOU FREE TO DESIST FROM IT." (Mishnah Avot 2:21) It is our duty to care for the hungry and the naked. Poverty, hunger, and malnutrition may never be completely abolished, but despite the enormity of the task confronting us, we are obliged to undertake it.
If we consider ourselves religious and/or moral people—and most Americans would seem to identify themselves as one or the other, if not both—we cannot fail to realize our obligations to our fellow human beings. If we forget their plight, or Heaven forbid, turn a blind eye to it, we commit blasphemy, for in denying the one made in the image of God, we deny the One who made the image—we deny God. Our faith in God demands action from us, as James and Tarphon have so clearly indicated. We must not forget, nor allow others to forget the needs of those less fortunate than us. We must care for those who can´t aid themselves. In short, to misquote Rhett Butler and "Gone with the Wind", we must give a damn! WE MUST CARE!
Now, what can be done in practical terms to help those who are suffering from hunger? After all, few if any of us have the resources available to travel around the world distributing food or money. Yet, each of us does have the power of the pen. Everyone has the ability to write to our national leaders. Letters to President Bush, to President-elect Obama, to our Senators, and to our Congressional representatives, all can have a positive affect on the situation. Please write to these leaders, calling upon them to support the concept of a World Grain Reserve program, as well as to introduce and/or support legislation to reform the foreign aid programs so that more aid finds its way to the very poor and enables them to develop self-reliance to work their way out of the vicious circle of hunger, poverty, dependency, and despair. Let´s promise ourselves to write to each of these national leaders in the next five weeks—that´s only one letter per week from now until Christmas and Hanukkah.
So too, make a contribution to a national organization like CARE, which seeks to alleviate the problems of world hunger and poverty. Here´s their address:
CARE
32 W. 39th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 686-3110, or simply go on-line at www.care.org. Contributions made right now are being matched dollar for dollar by a group of generous benefactors. And, it goes without saying that regular contributions to one´s local food pantry continue to be vital, especially at this time of year.
As we enjoy the bounties of this good land this Thanksgiving, let´s remember the words of Scripture: "FOR THE POOR SHALL NOT CEASE OUT OF THE LAND; THEREFORE I COMMAND YOU: YOU SHALL OPEN WIDE YOUR HAND TO YOUR BROTHER, TO THE NEEDY, AND TO THE POOR IN THE LAND." (Deuteronomy 15:11)
"YOU SHALL OPEN WIDE YOUR HAND…"; please, let´s remember to open our hands wide.
To all: a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
However, for a few moments today, try to consider what life is like for Mr. or Ms. Average-World-Citizen. In order to this, one must be imaginative. First, one must abandon almost all of his/her possessions. One may keep ten dollars and some old work clothes, the old worktable from the garage, and two or three worn-out chairs, plus two worn-out mattresses with the springs broken and an old bed. Also, keep a few old vegetables, some rotten potatoes, and a few pieces of moldy bread. Abandon all motor vehicles, but keep that old rusty bicycle that´s in the cellar. Ten-speeds are not allowed, nor are mountain bikes. Now, move into the garage if it is old and has a leaking roof, but if it´s new or has space for two or more cars, knock it down to size, replacing the torn-out wall with plastic sheeting, rusting tin-plate, or cardboard. Add a few posters for charm or local color, if desired. Now, assemble all the children and the pets, as well as the chickens, goats and/or pigs, and move into that shack. Be it ever so humble—and Mr. and Ms. Average-World-Citizen, believe me, it is humble—it´s home. One more thing: get used to that feeling of hunger, because it will be the closest companion for the remainder of one´s all-too-short life.
If this view of life appears dismal and depressing, be thankful that it is not the reality of life for you. But don´t forget that it is not a figment of the imagination, either. Most of the world´s population lives that way—in a state of ignorance, poverty, and dire want. Nearly one third of the world´s babies die of malnutrition before they reach the age of five. Think: every third child destined to die by age five for lack of an adequate diet. In real terms that means that while sitting reading this article, hundreds, if not thousands, of children are dying due to malnutrition. And meanwhile we continue to dream about the butterball—or Empire Kosher—turkey, the candied yams, the stuffing, and the cranberry sauce, all topped off with pumpkin pie a la mode, or for some of us, tofutti pareve ice cream.
The average world citizen would consider the foods which we throw away as incredible feasts. For that matter, our pets—and even such scavengers as rats—eat better here in America than the malnourished millions and millions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We Americans contain in our clothes-closets—counting only the fashions of this year—more clothes than an individual from a Third World country will see in his or her entire lifetime. If one travels to the slums of Hong Kong-Kowloon, Calcutta, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Cairo, he/she can´t believe the sights confronting the eyes. Likewise, such is the view in the slums of Mexico, and—if we are honest enough to admit it—parts of our own country as well. People are dying daily for want of the proverbial crust of bread. Is this unpleasant, distressing, revolting, causing the stomach to turn?—maybe. But it´s true none-the-less. The image that I have just painted will fade from before our eyes as we move on to another subject. But for most of the world, the image does not disappear—it is the image of reality. Only death will wipe this grim view from before their eyes. Only death….
This week we thank God for the many blessings bestowed upon us. Indeed, when we realize how fortunate we are to live in this country, relatively free from poverty and hunger, we cannot but thank our Divine Creator. Yet, if we pause to consider our special debt to God for sparing us such misery while billions of our fellow human beings are suffering and dying from malnutrition, we cannot help but recall the aid we owe them as fellow members of the human family. They are our sisters and brothers. The prophet Malachi reminds us of our duty when he speaks to us: "HAVE WE NOT ALL ONE PARENT? HAS NOT ONE GOD CREATED US? WHY THEN ARE WE FAITHLESS TO ONE ANOTHER, PROFANING THE COVENANT OF OUR ANCESTORS?" (Malachi 2:10)
Another prophet, Isaiah, reminds us what it is that God wants us to do:
"IS THIS NOT THE FAST THAT I CHOOSE: TO LOOSE THE BONDS OF WICKEDNESS, TO UNDO THE THONGS OF THE YOKE, TO LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND TO BREAK EVERY YOKE? IS IT NOT TO SHARE YOUR BREAD WITH THE HUNGRY, AND BRING INTO YOUR HOUSE THE HOMELESS POOR? WHEN YOU SEE THE NAKED TO COVER HIM, AND HIDE NOT YOURSELF FROM YOUR OWN FLESH?"(Isaiah 58:6-7)
Turning for a moment to the writings of the New Testament, we find sage advice in the good words of James:
"IF A BROTHER OR A SISTER IS ILL-CLAD AND IN LACK OF DAILY FOOD, AND ONE OF YOU SAYS TO THEM, ´GO IN PEACE, AND BE WARMED AND FILLED´, WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE THINGS NEEDED FOR THE BODY, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT? SO FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT HAS NO WORKS IS DEAD. …FOR AS THE BODY APART FROM THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, SO FAITH APART FROM WORKS IS DEAD, ALSO." (James 2:15-17, 26)
And finally the admonition of R. Tarphon from the Talmud: "YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE TASK, BUT NEITHER ARE YOU FREE TO DESIST FROM IT." (Mishnah Avot 2:21) It is our duty to care for the hungry and the naked. Poverty, hunger, and malnutrition may never be completely abolished, but despite the enormity of the task confronting us, we are obliged to undertake it.
If we consider ourselves religious and/or moral people—and most Americans would seem to identify themselves as one or the other, if not both—we cannot fail to realize our obligations to our fellow human beings. If we forget their plight, or Heaven forbid, turn a blind eye to it, we commit blasphemy, for in denying the one made in the image of God, we deny the One who made the image—we deny God. Our faith in God demands action from us, as James and Tarphon have so clearly indicated. We must not forget, nor allow others to forget the needs of those less fortunate than us. We must care for those who can´t aid themselves. In short, to misquote Rhett Butler and "Gone with the Wind", we must give a damn! WE MUST CARE!
Now, what can be done in practical terms to help those who are suffering from hunger? After all, few if any of us have the resources available to travel around the world distributing food or money. Yet, each of us does have the power of the pen. Everyone has the ability to write to our national leaders. Letters to President Bush, to President-elect Obama, to our Senators, and to our Congressional representatives, all can have a positive affect on the situation. Please write to these leaders, calling upon them to support the concept of a World Grain Reserve program, as well as to introduce and/or support legislation to reform the foreign aid programs so that more aid finds its way to the very poor and enables them to develop self-reliance to work their way out of the vicious circle of hunger, poverty, dependency, and despair. Let´s promise ourselves to write to each of these national leaders in the next five weeks—that´s only one letter per week from now until Christmas and Hanukkah.
So too, make a contribution to a national organization like CARE, which seeks to alleviate the problems of world hunger and poverty. Here´s their address:
CARE
32 W. 39th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 686-3110, or simply go on-line at www.care.org. Contributions made right now are being matched dollar for dollar by a group of generous benefactors. And, it goes without saying that regular contributions to one´s local food pantry continue to be vital, especially at this time of year.
As we enjoy the bounties of this good land this Thanksgiving, let´s remember the words of Scripture: "FOR THE POOR SHALL NOT CEASE OUT OF THE LAND; THEREFORE I COMMAND YOU: YOU SHALL OPEN WIDE YOUR HAND TO YOUR BROTHER, TO THE NEEDY, AND TO THE POOR IN THE LAND." (Deuteronomy 15:11)
"YOU SHALL OPEN WIDE YOUR HAND…"; please, let´s remember to open our hands wide.
To all: a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
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