“Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous
basis of
how
much
you’ve
been
given” - Marelisa
Fabrega
”I was very skeptical about
miracles,
and
never
particularly
grateful for what I had as I always believed
I
worked
hard
and
I
got
what
I
deserved. I
took everything
for
granted.
It all changed
when
I
almost
lost
my
mom
in
a
car
accident. Although
the
doctors
said
there
was
not
much
they
could do,
they
kept
fighting
for
her
survival.
Since
then,
I
believe
in
miracles
and
I’m
especially
thankful
for
good
health
and for
the
miracle
workers
out
there.
This
year,
Hanukkah and
Thanksgiving
brought
it
all
together
for
me”
- someone
shared
with
me
a
few
days
ago.
I’ve
always
celebrated
Hanukkah since
the
day
my
saba
(grandfather)
gave
me
the
same
Hanukkiah
I’m
still
lighting
40
plus years
later.
With
that
Hanukkiah,
my
saba
gave
me
the wonderful
gift
of
tradition.
I
love
Hanukkah,
the
celebration
and
its
meaning.
I
love
celebrating
miracles,
not
only
because
life
itself
is
one,
but
because
I
believe
in
those
who
create
miracles
and
applaud
those
who
keep
believing.
When
I
moved
to
the
USA,
15
years
ago,
I
learned
all
about
Thanksgiving,
a
joyous
celebration
of
gratitude
that
was
easily
welcomed
in our
family
tradition.
Being
grateful
is
something
that
my
Jewish
roots
have
always
taught
me,
from
the
morning
prayers
to
different
rituals
during
the
day.
Judaism
is
a religion
that constantly
reminds
us
to
appreciate
life
and
its
gifts.
I
love
everything
about
Thanksgiving.
I
celebrate
the
good
and
the
challenging,
as
one without the other cannot exist, and I’m thankful for
being
alive
and be able to overcome
whatever
life
brings.
This
year,
Thanksgiving
falls
on
the
first
day
of
Hanukkah,
a rare fact that only
happened
once
before,
in
1888.
I
believe
it
is
easy
to
celebrate
both
together,
not
only
because
latkes
can
go
well
with
cranberry
sauce,
or
the
turkey
can
look
nice
on
a
table
next
to
the
Hanukkah candles,
or
maybe because
both are
a
celebration
of
freedom
from
religious
oppression
and
persecution.
I
believe
Hanukkah
and
Thanksgiving
can
complement
each
other
in
a
beautiful
way:
being
thankful
for
the
miracle
of
life
and
for
those
who
make
miracles
happen!
That
insight
shared
with
me
a few days ago made
me
think
about
so
many
things,
but
mostly about
the
“miracle
workers”.
It
made
me
think
about
all
of
us
who
volunteer
in
different
organizations
to
make
the
difference,
and
those
who
contribute
with
their
donations
to
give
hope
and
a
better
tomorrow
to
others,
the
ones
who
work
in
the
non
for
profit
sector,
and
the
police
officers
and
the
fire
fighters,
and
the
teachers,
doctors
and
nurses,
the
soldiers
defending
their
country,
and
all
the
good
people
in
this
planet
who
one
way
or
another
decide
to
make
it
a
better
place.
Anyone
who
still
believes
that
something
good
can
happen
if
we
at
least
try,
no
matter
how devastating
reality
can
be
some
times,
is
a
miracle
worker
to
me.
And
to
that
miracle
worker,
I
will
dedicate
this
Thanksgiving
that this year
is
holding
the
hand
of
Hanukkah,
a
celebration
to
feel
gratitude
for
their
miracles,
day
in
and
day
out.
An
eternal
gratitude
for
keeping
the
oil
burning!
I
invite
you
to
think
about
the
miracles
in
your
life,
the
people
who
create
them
for
you
and
the
miracles
that
you
create
for
others.
Connecting
with
those
miracles
helps
us
understand
our
purpose
on
earth
and
to
feel
the
gratitude
and
joy
for
our
miraculous
life.
Have
a
happy
holiday
and
a
life
filled
with latkes
and
turkey,
miracles
and
gratitude!