A friend and rabbi introduced me to this question at the Friday night Shabbat dinner table. She asked everyone there to share the highlight of their week, that thing, person, or event for which they were most grateful.
We have since embraced this beautiful tradition at our Shabbat Table. It gives us a chance to welcome Shabbat with gratitude and a fuller heart at the end of what is often a very tumultuous week.
Each day the news seems overwhelmed with negative stories about how we are in decline as a culture, a nation, a world. War, famine, climate change; we are, to quote Barry McGuire, on the eve of destruction. But the world is filled with beautiful things. Good people acting with love and selfless generosity. The beauty and majesty of our planet. And many other things that often get overlooked by the current crisis or calamity. We need to find space to appreciate the good so we can help it to spread.
As we enter Shabbat, take a moment to embrace that special thing that happened this week worthy of gratitude. Welcome Shabbat with something special.
What are you grateful for?
Shabbat Shalom