In the Merriam Webster dictionary they define the word Jew, in different ways, as you can see in the image we included. Yet in addition to "these basic definitions, there is one deeper dimension to this name which was not included (yet).
While the universal name for our people has become Jews, or Yehudim, in addition to the names like the Hebrews, and people of Israel, Jews is a name that expresses a very deep idea that is intrinsic to being Jewish.
As the dictionary correctly pointed out, Jew is also associated with being from the tribe of Judah, which later become the tribe of leadership of the Jewish people. Yet when one stops to analyze and understand the meaning of this actual name, it contains a message and a calling.
Judah was the fourth tribe born to Leah, and at his birth, as she counted her blessings and gratitude to G-d, she said this child, has made me call out and thank G-d, thus she gave him the name Judah, which means "thanks".
As people who are called with a name whose connotation is Thanks to G-d Almighty, it is a reminder of the gratitude and mindfulness we should seek to live by, each and every day of our lives.
Additionally, in our tradition, the very first word, one utters each day is "Modeh", thanks, as we say thank you to G-d for restoring our soul and giving us another day to live in this world.
So yes, Thanksgiving and its message is something we try and think about in so many ways.
This weekend as we are thankful for our blessings as a country and society and are mindful of what those blessings should mean in the way we live and help others around us, it is also a time to reflect on our blessings, and to be thankful to everyone who helps us personally in so many ways.
On a local level, we are reminded about how grateful we are to each and every member of the community, who always show up, volunteer, come to study, come to pray, help one another, show up and advocate, support and help, and do so much more.
All the good that happens is truly a credit to each and every one of the many hundreds of people who are intertwined and involved in one way or another in the work of Chabad of Sudbury!
Thank you to each and every one of you and may we all be blessed to always have blessings to be thankful for!
Read below for some nice updates about a meaningful week!
Good Shabbos & Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel