By Leah Garber
“We were broken, stunned, aching. We exchanged glances, lowered our eyes, then we raged, we breathed fire, we blazed. We began to grind, to bare our teeth. We questioned, tried to understand, we were at lost.
Then we smiled, took a deep breath, cast it all aside and resumed our sanity.
We are grateful for the tenderness, the simple innocence, for the caress, the embrace, the kind word. For all that weighs upon the human soul.
We are grateful for the fine people, thank you.”
—Arik Einstein, z”l, Israeli poet and musician.
Thanksgiving is one of North America’s most beautiful and meaningful traditions—one that, regrettably, we in Israel have yet to embrace.
Families getting together, rejoicing with gratitude, puts everything in proper perspective, provides the strength needed to carry on, and the meaning to do so.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I wish to pause from the sorrow that has enveloped us all for 417 days and dwell instead on the good—and consider my own reasons for gratitude.
I am grateful for my people, both here in Israel and across the world. My brothers and sisters who, despite our differences, cultural variations, worldviews, and divergent opinions, stand united in heart against evil, perversion, and threats. We hold onto one another for our sake, for all our sakes.
I am grateful for my people who, despite hardships, endless pain, continuing loss, and unrelenting grief, never lose hope. With superhuman resilience, we cling to life, believe in the just path forward, and fight for a better tomorrow.
I am grateful for my beloved country. Though enemies have carved scars in her soil, devoured her fields, burned her expanses, and blackened her skies, she remains as beautiful as ever. Israel’s fields grow green again, her earth blooms anew, and beneficial sunbeams pierce through the clouds, promising that light shall ultimately prevail.
I am grateful for my country’s brave women who, while their partners serve, protect, and fight for our land, remain home alone raising children, preserving family life, maintaining routine, and welcoming their loved ones back with endless embraces.
I am grateful to the 805 IDF soldiers who, since Oct. 7, have given their lives so that we all have a home to live in, and to the 5,429 wounded soldiers whose daily, hourly battle for full recovery continues with remarkable courage—many of whom return to the battlefield as soon as possible.
I am grateful to the families of the hostages who, through their terrible struggle and infinite sorrow, remind us daily of the moral values we must never abandon, without which we cannot exist.
I am grateful to the hundreds of thousands of Israelis evacuated from their homes this year, enabling the Israeli army to restore the security they deserve, willing to remain refugees in their own land if only peace might reign on our borders.
I am grateful to my JCC Association colleagues who have labored alongside us this year, united in the mission to share content and resources with you, ensuring that Israel remains an integral part of all JCCs’ activities.
I am grateful to you, this View’s readers, who have allowed me to share my pain honestly and openly. You have lightened my burden. Your support and encouragement have warmed my heart, and the hearts of all Israelis, as we remain wrapped with your solidarity in so many ways.
I am grateful to my family for their remarkable resilience and endless love, and I thank God whose miracles I can feel, despite the heavy toll these cursed wars have taken from us.
And maybe a cease-fire in Lebanon will be announced today or tomorrow, and then I will be grateful for days of peace.
I pray that next year we will be able to give thanks for simple goodness that exists unconditionally—not despite, alongside, or overcoming of pain. Just like that: pure goodness, nothing but good.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Together, united, we will overcome.
Leah Garber is a senior vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of its Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem.
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