Shabbat shalom.
While our hearts may be heavy from the situation in Israel, and our place in the world in perpetual doubt, let’s take a pause from the weekly mayhem to be thankful. Despite the daily depravity that seems to envelop us, we still have each other. And we can still laugh and kvell, and flash a smile when a child or grand child runs to greet us, and cling to the hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day and bring better news.
I am grateful, and thankful, to all of my JNR friends and family for their continued support, and for even opening this email. My editorial premise has always been quite simply, l’dor v’dor, or “generation to generation”. I feel a great sense of pride in my Jewishness, but also a strong sense of stewardship to keep the generations connected to a culture and religion that has delivered so much to the world, but especially to my own sense of self and “tikkun olam.” And although things seem to carry us to serious places these days, I try to not to be too serious, and to offer different perspectives and bits of culture or a “tip of the kipah” as a tonic on what can seem like a callous and unforgiving news cycle.
So, even in these darkest of days in the Jewish world, we can take a pause in the action, and let time with family and friends bring in some nourishing light. We can put the phone down, take a walk, watch some football, eat some turkey, play some cribbage, and/or recall the old stories and memories that bring loved ones back to life, or all of the above. As long as we have loved ones to share all of that with, how can we not be grateful for such a gift?
As always, be careful out there, and thanks again for your support. And enjoy this bit of Thanksgiving fun from SNL!
Brad out.
Jew News Review 