Thanksgiving and Finding Meaning in Our Unique Gifts

 Happy Thanksgiving,


In Jewish tradition, one fulfills one's obligation for prayer when one says amen to the prayers of whoever is leading the worship experience....WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

When one is giving thanks, although one can say amen to the prayers of others, each person must find something for which to give thanks.  On this Thanksgiving, as all of us acknowledge we are living in challenging times and facing various hurdles in different aspects of our lives, I hope that Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to search for the blessings in our lives and acknowledge them.

I am teaching a course in the Holocaust this semester at George Mason University and have taught about Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning." and the power of hope.

Two of my favorite quotes from Viktor Frankl, are the following:(see below)



Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.


For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.

May this Thanksgiving inspire us to find that meaning and that moment  to make a difference, and encourage us to give thanks for our unique gift(s) and opportunities we have to share them with others.

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,

Rabbi Bruce Aft


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