America's Table: A Thanksgiving Reader | Page 14

The Third Question

On all other holidays , we talk about whatever we want at the table . Why on this holiday do we stop to think about what we are thankful for ?
Rabbi Ben Zoma said : Who is rich ? The one who appreciates what s / he has .
PIRKEI AVOT ( ETHICS OF THE FATHERS ) 4:1
We are genetically predisposed to pay more attention to the bad than the good . For sound biological reasons , we are hyper-alert to potential threats and dangers . It takes focused attention to become aware of how much we have to be grateful for .
RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS
Let us express our gratitude using these written words or our own .
We are thankful for freedom from hunger . We are thankful for the freedom to worship . We are thankful for the freedom to challenge our minds . We are thankful for the freedom to change our minds . We are thankful for the freedom to chart our lives . We are thankful for the freedom to work for a better world . We are thankful for the freedom to celebrate this day .
11