Gratitude is a big part of Judaism and many other spiritual paths. The greatest story is the story of Moses. To save his life his mother and sister who had named this Jewish baby, put him into a tightly woven basket and floated it in the river. They prayed to G-d to keep him safe. The Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket and looked inside. She looked inside an found an infant, she knew is was a Jewish baby. She took him home to the palace and raised his as her son, naming him Moses. From the water I drew him. The Jews to this day have never changed his name back to his given name. For eternity the Jewish people show Adonai their gratitude for the life of Moses.
The evil of those who sought to destroy the Jews and made slaves of them must be remembered as well as recalling the kindness of those who intervened to deliver the Jewish people from slavery. Gratitude is so important, it’s meant to be eternal.
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” —Cicero
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie
The Jewish people believe in family and gratitude and education. Every Jewish child grows up knowing he/she must get a good education.
“I dreamt I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child’s mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher–the tools he used
Were books, music, and art.
The other, a parent, worked with a guiding hand
And a gentle loving heart.
Day after day, the teacher toiled
With touch that was deft and sure.
While the parent labored by his side
And polished and smoothed it o’er.
And when at last, their task was done
They were proud of what they’d wrought.
For the things they had molded into the child
Could neither be sold nor boutht.
And each agreed they would have failed
If each had worked alome.
For behind the teacher stood the school
And behind the parent stood the home.” —Author unknown
A Passover blessing
“I doubt anyone will ever see-anywhere—a memorial to a pessimist.” —Unknown
“Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.” —Golda Meir
The Jewish people have a tradition in many families to light not just two candles but an additional candle for every child in the family as well. Parents explain to their children that every one of them brought extra light to their home when they came into their lives. The light of a candle, the sages teach, is a symbol of the soul.
“Rather light candles than curse the darkness.” —Adlai E. Stevenson
“if a drop if ink fell at the same time on your book and on your coat, clean first the book and then the garment.” —Talmud
” If you drop gold and books, pick up first the books and then the gold.” —Talmud
” Jews are the People of the Book.” —Mohammed, the Koran