This week’s Torah portion, Toldot, provides us with the origin of the Jewish practice of offering one hundred blessings every single day. In Genesis 26:12, when Isaac survives his trial with Avimelech, he is given a “hundredfold” blessing by God. Hundredfold in Hebrew is Meah She’arim. This is the same word used for the neighborhood in Jerusalem known for its Ultra Orthodox population. The idea being, since God blesses the Jewish people a hundredfold, we are required to offer that number of blessings in return.
When I first heard this practice, it seemed completely overwhelming. Even if one were to recite all the required blessings in the daily Jewish liturgy, you would still be a dozen or so short. How is it possible to find that many things to be thankful for?
Last week, Susan Schwartz led a session with the staff at the Jewish Federation, in which she asked us to list as many blessings as we can in a few minutes’ time. It was easy for me to think of the many things I am thankful for: my family, my friends, my co-workers, my community, my city, my country, my world. With each note of gratitude, I felt my heart expanding. Just basic things like having food on the table and a place to call home are things we should not take for granted. As hard as it might seem to try to offer one hundred blessings every single day, we have many, many more reasons to be grateful. On this Thanksgiving Shabbat, I encourage you to sit around with those you love and offer all the ways you are thankful for them. In this way, you will not only be fulfilling the intent of the American holiday, but of our sacred Jewish practice as well.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex