By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — Thanksgiving. No, not the holiday that comes this week on November 23. Rather, what the Torah portion we read this week, Vayeitzei, teaches us about giving thanks. The root letters of “odeh” – “I will give thanks,” form the basis of the name that Leah chose for her son, Yehudah, from which we get the name “Judah.” And from “Judah” we get the word “Judaism.” We learn here that the greatest responsibility we have is to give thanks, since in doing so we bring more holiness into the world. When we awake and say, “Thank you,” when we seek out 100 blessings each day, we create more blessings, as did Leah.
“It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir would say: “A person is obligated to recite 100 blessings every day, as it is stated in the verse: ‘And now, Israel, what [ma] does the Lord your G-d require of you’ (Deuteronomy 10:12). Rabbi Meir interprets the verse as though it said mea [one hundred] rather than ma” (Menahot 43b).
In deep gratitude to Hashem, we find abundant reasons to express our thanks. His divine guidance illuminates our path, especially in moments shrouded in darkness and fraught with fear. Witness the radiant light He bestowed upon us during the recent Washington, DC rally, and sense the prayers, love, and support that enveloped us all. Let gratitude fill our hearts for the IDF, an embodiment of compassion that prioritizes the safety of human life above all else. Let us appreciate the profound embrace we feel in these global times of shadows, knowing we are held close by the Divine.
R’ Simeon b. Yohai teaches that Leah was the first person who expressed thankfulness to Hashem (Berakhot 7b). But is that accurate? Doesn’t Psalm 139 show us that Adam expressed gratitude to Hashem when he was miraculously formed? So why is Leah seen as the first?
It’s easy to be filled with thanks, appreciation, and gratitude when all is going well. It’s not so easy to be thankful through darker times. That is Leah’s distinction. She is the first to express thanks during sorrowful, disappointing times. From this, we find inspiration, to understand how important it is, to express gratitude even during times of despair and anguish. It is a powerful psychological strength to feel thankful even when life is not providing you all you want. We are a people who understand that everything in life is a gift from Hashem – everything, and we have no sense of entitlement whatsoever to anything that comes our way. We understand that everything happens FOR us, not TO us. We have no belief that “it’s coming to me.” We may not be able to discern why we have — or don’t have — but we are always able to live up to our name with an honest attitude of gratitude to Hashem…our name, Yehudim.
The Ibn Ezra shows us that Leah’s gratefulness, her thankful mindset, meant she felt an all-embracing contentment with her life as it is, what we consider to be acceptance. While we work on righting the wrongs in our lives, we nevertheless say “thank you” to Hashem who gives us the psychic, spiritual, energy to step forward regardless of what we face in life.
Why is it imperative to nurture our spiritual essence in the present age? It appears that the prevalence of technology and the allure of material indulgence have cast a shadow over our spiritual communion with the universe, with that which transcends our individual selves. This intertwines with our emotional welfare and the art of living abundantly, as spirituality expands our perspective, fostering a positive and wholesome state of mind. The unity of mind, body, and spirit is undeniable; they are inseparable, save for the confines of academic discourse. Opting to exchange our spiritual richness for the allure of technology is a choice that diminishes the vitality of life itself.
Here I’m reminded of another story, this, of the little boy who was out flying his kite on a windy day. The wind was terrific that day and the kite was soaring high into the clouds. A man walked by and asked the boy what he was doing. “I’m flying my kite,” said the boy. The man looked, couldn’t see any kite, and said, “I don’t see any kite. How do you know you’re flying a kite?” The boy answered, “Mr., because I can feel the tug.”
Do you feel this “tug” in every moment of your life? That’s what positive “ruchaniyut,” in modern Hebrew, spirituality, is about – finding that tug in our lives. Menahem Mendel of Kotzk taught us that Hashem is wherever we let God in. It is up to us to feel His presence, to discover and fully feel His tug in every moment, in every situation, and to let Him fully into our lives. With spiritual energy, some call it “Moshiach Energy,” we are always aware of Hashem’s never -ending mercy and blessings for us.
Hashem promises Jacob in this week’s Torah reading that he will feel His tug, “And behold, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will restore you to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I have spoken concerning you.” And Jacob goes on to say, “Indeed, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know [it].”
How reassuring it is to feel the tug of Hashem with us in every step we take, regardless of where we are and what we are doing. How do we know He is with us? We feel His tug. Every harm we feel is His way of alerting us to the good he is doing for us, and with open eyes, we see it clearly. Rejection? No, His redirection. Every instance of life is a resource for us. Complain? Not if you are truly a person of faith.
The Kobriner Rebbe asked his students, “Do you know where Hashem is?” He took a piece of bread, showed it to them, and observed: “Hashem is in this piece of bread. Without Hashem’s expression of power in all nature, this bread would have no existence.” No, Hashem is not hiding from us at all. In chapter one in the Book of Jonah, we see that it is we who are hiding from Him.
By increasing our learning, turning into our sacred texts, we feel His tug. Through mindful prayer bringing our full selves, not simply zipping through words in an empty-minded mumbling way, we create a deeper connection to Him. Through our engagement with our community institutions, our synagogues, we can strengthen our spiritual actions and feel Hashem’s tug even more. Learn, pray, and act.
What if you trained yourself to discover and see the good that continually surrounds you? My teacher, Martin Seligman, Ph.D., taught that a simple way to enrich our wellbeing is with a question, “What went well today, this week?” Sure, we are often pressured, badgered, irritated, and distressed. But Jacob shows us that angels are always hovering around us. There are always blessings on our path. With a few moments of practicing to pause, we will see Hashem in our presence. We can enhance this by bringing with us the following positive emotions: awe, love (attachment), trust (faith), compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, joy, and hope constitute what we mean by spirituality.
In the dream we learn from this week, Hashem says, “Your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth”, and promises, “Here I am, with you: I will watch over you wherever you go.” Jacob awakens and affirms the Presence of Hashem, saying, “Truly the Eternal is in this place, and I did not know it!” This is a deeply spiritual moment when an ordinary place becomes special, unique, set apart, godly.
Jacob observes, “How awe-inspiring is this place! This is none other than the house of Hashem, and this is the gate of heaven!” Jacob teaches us that Hashem can be found everywhere – or nowhere. Jacob reached beyond the confines of his daily routine to find larger meaning in his life. That’s what spirituality is about – finding larger meaning in our life. That’s our task, no matter how much adversity we face in life. There is always a spiritual benefit that we are asked to see. After all, don’t we learn from Yaakov’s fight with the angel to see how situations turn out better than we might anticipate?
A dream comes to wake us up. We are to remember Who is always with us, Who brings us opportunities for our growth. This Shabbat, following Thanksgiving, let’s express our thankfulness for all He does for us and see Him all around us. May our prayers be answered to feel Hashem’s protection, and to merit to see a speedy end to suffering amongst us, and an end to Hamas’ homicidal war against us.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com