How We Give Thanks
“It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy”
Thanksgiving is a special time of year where family and friends gather, homes are made welcoming, and new ritual is observed. Read on to see how each Na’aleh staff member marks this occasion.
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Says Program Manager and Facilitator Rachel Plotkin, “The morning of Thanksgiving I always make cinnamon buns and we watch the parade as a family in our PJs before I begin cooking as we are always the hosting house. I am so grateful to be in a place professionally where I feel fulfilled and inspired every day and also for having a supportive and wonderful family. I enjoy chopping the turkey and having it in a salad with a cranberry vinaigrette and I love leftover pie.“
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
William Arthur Ward
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Director of Leadership Andrea Hendler hasn’t had a Thanksgiving meal for almost a decade, but remembers making sandwiches with lots of leftover stuffing – yum! She looks forward to attend a “Friendsgiving” meal this year, and is grateful for being in Baltimore closer to friends and family, good health, and democracy.
“Who is rich? Those who rejoice in their own portion.”
Pirkei Avot 4:1
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Executive Director Bill Robinson looks forward to his Thanksgiving leftovers: “Everything piled into one sandwich!” His family shares what they are each grateful for this year “and then we share memories of those no longer with us.” This year he is grateful for family, friends, health, and the opportunity to make a difference in the world.
“Enough is a feast.”
Buddhist Proverb
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Director of Talent Development Cindy Goldstein has a special Thanksgiving ritual: “A long time ago I bought a pack of interesting and beautiful cards with meaningful questions, specifically for Thanksgiving. I put them under each plate for us to take out and go around and answer or discuss the questions, from what we’re thankful for to issues of social justice to historical reflections, all gratitude related. More recently everyone chose themselves what questions they wanted to answer.” This year she is grateful for family milestones: “I’m grateful for so many special simchas/joyous occasions this year – that my parents are able to be around the table with us, that we celebrated my mother’s 89th birthday in November, our oldest son’s 35th, and our grand-twins’ 1st! And that in two weeks, my daughter will be flying in again from Chicago and we’ll be together celebrating our second son’s wedding in NY.”
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.”
Rabbi Harold Kushner
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
Maya Angelou
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Operations Manager Elayna Tell makes turkey Devonshire sandwiches with leftovers! “This year I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to travel again to celebrate various simchas in a world emerging from the pandemic.”
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.”
Winnie the Pooh
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Communications Associate Aviva Cohen celebrates Thanksgiving with friends and family. This year she is grateful for her family’s health and happiness, and plans to spend the day making new memories with her husband and 4 month-old son.
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
Voltaire
