H eadlines
Giving Thanks: Being Grateful in a Tough Year
Hakarat Hatov — recognizing
the good — and an obligation to
give thanks for the good we see
JESSE BERNSTEIN AND
— in people, in nature, in life.

SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF
Every day I try to slow down
WE ASKED Philadelphians for a few minutes to recognize
what they were thankful for and cherish a small moment of
this year. Here are some of the the good.

answers we got.

Rabbi Jon Cutler, Beth Israel
Ross Berkowitz, founder and Congregation of Chester
CEO, Tribe 12
County In a year of discomfort and
In a time when there are
confusion, I find gratitude is the
so many big problems in our
best way
to engage the world. I
society and world, I make it
have found
that this season of
a point to be thankful for the
life has
invited me into being
small moments. Singing to my
grateful in
the smallest
of ways
children every night before
— spaces
where I
can be
in such
bed, holding hands and sharing
a hurry
that I
cannot or will
thoughts with my wife in a
not pause
to take
in the
wonder quiet moment after a hectic day,
exchanging a smile — seen in but now I take the pause. I can
the eyes behind a mask — with kvetch about washing dishes or
a friend in a chance encounter. I can recite barachot of grati-
There is a concept in Judaism of tude for the food prepared and
L OCA L
Rabbi Jon Cutler
Courtesy of Rabbi Jon Cutler
eaten, for the [joy] in eating,
and the task of cleaning up.

I can hurriedly open the
computer for the next Zoom
meeting or take a moment to
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4 NOVEMBER 26, 2020
JEWISH EXPONENT
Shira Goodman
Courtesy of Shira Goodman
give thanks that I can see and
engage with people who are
equally frustrated with distance
learning and conversations. I
can lament the thousands of
ways we are separate or delight
in the phone calls and the old
but trusted system of mailing
notes and letters.

Emma C. Eisenberg, director
of Blue Stoop, author of “The
Third Rainbow Girl: The Long
Life of a Double Murder in
Appalachia” I’m thankful for my parents’
relative good health and for
the health of most of those I
hold dear. I’m thankful for the
strength and clarity with which
Philadelphians have fought for
racial justice in recent months,
particularly Black women
Philadelphians. I’m thankful
for my partner Art, to whom
I recently made a longterm
commitment, and that as of
this moment queer people in
this country have the right to
legally marry if they choose.

And I’m thankful for story-
telling and creativity, which are
so crucial in providing us with
both revolution and solace.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro
Courtesy of Josh Shapiro
thankful that my family and
I have our health in a year
that has been devastating for
so many. I am so apprecia-
tive of the staff and leadership
of the National Museum of
American Jewish History
for their determination and
resilience as we became an
entirely virtual museum. And
I am grateful to be a part of a
history museum so that I can
be reminded every day that we
as Jews, as Americans, and as
global citizens have triumphed
over hardship and adversity
throughout our history which
can help us all look optimisti-
cally to the future.

Shira Goodman, regional
director, Anti-Defamation
League Philadelphia
Although I’m disappointed
that Thanksgiving will not be
our usual family gathering, I’m
fortunate to have so much to
be thankful for. I’m thankful
for finding new ways to spend
meaningful time with the most
important people in my life,
for the good health of those
around me and for the efforts
we are making to keep each
other safe. I’m grateful for
Misha Galperin, CEO, National tough, challenging conversa-
Museum of American Jewish tions that have both strained
History and strengthened relationships.

I am personally deeply I get to work with amazing
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people fighting against hate
in all its forms and to build
partnerships with others in the
fight for justice. The challenges
we face in this work, and in
our daily lives, are great, but
I’m thankful to once again feel
hopeful about the future.

Dara Leinweber, care manager,
Jewish Family and Children’s
Service of Greater Philadelphia
Any Phish phan will tell you
that Phish is more than a band,
it’s a family. And Phish shows
aren’t just concerts, they are
experiences. I’ve traveled 2,500
miles just to see this band. You
get the picture. Trey Anastasio,
frontman of Phish, responding
to the isolation, fear, and doubt
of so many, organized an eight-
week livestream residency from
the Beacon Theatre in New
York City. Not only is it a treat
to hear the music of my favorite
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band played live each week, but
the shows are also a fundraiser
with 100% of the donations
made during the show going
directly to The Divided Sky
Fund, whose goal is to open
a drug and alcohol treatment
center where no one is turned
away for lack of funds. These
shows are literally saving lives
and I am so grateful to be a
part of a phamily that supports
such a worthy and desperately
needed service!
Shmulik Levi, shaliach,
Camp Galil
The opportunity to be
involved in educating the next
generation during this difficult
time is something that I am
grateful for. In this time, it’s
difficult to meet together in
person, through masks and
through screens with social
distancing. Our persistence in
meeting, by age-group, with
dancing and happiness, is
not obvious. I feel that this
is a fact of shlichut. In this
long period of uncertainty,
we need to reinvent ourselves
and acquire new skills. I found
the leaders of the next gener-
ation who are ready for this
challenge. They are already
here among us. They grew up at
Camp Galil, part of Habonim
Dror, the Labor Zionist youth
movement, and now they are
ready for the challenges we face
in these difficult times
Mike Levin, writer, co-host of
“The Rights to Ricky Sanchez”
As the pandemic rages on
uncontrolled, aided by a negli-
gent and malicious government
refusing on principle to be
generous to the people who
elected them amid the worst
health crisis in a century, I am
thankful for the people on the
ground. Obviously nurses and
doctors and hospital staff, but
also mutual aid organizers,
food banks, housing activists,
everyone sacrificing their money
or their time or their comfort
to help other people. They don’t
get the credit or support they
deserve, but they’re essential
to the survival of a society that
seems determined to consistently
make things more difficult for the
most vulnerable among us. On a
significantly less important note,
I’m thankful that the Sixers now
have competent management.

But 2020 has also provided
great lessons about how to
connect, how to lift up our
voices for real change, and
how to support one another
— even in what can seem like
the worst of times. This year,
like many others, I relied on
my family and my faith for
support and joy. I am thankful
for the inspiring stories of
hope and support I’ve heard
across Pennsylvania — neigh-
bors helping neighbors, helpers
finding ways to support their
communities, people banding
together to fight for what they
believe in. It gives me hope
Josh Shapiro, Attorney
that next Thanksgiving, more
General of Pennsylvania
of our families will be able to
There are a lot of people celebrate together. l
across the commonwealth who
may find it difficult to give jbernstein@jewishexponent.com;
thanks this year. It’s been hard; 215-832-0740.

work has changed, lives have spanzer@jewishexponent.com;
changed, we have changed. 215-832-0729
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