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Dear Mogen David Family,

Expressing gratitude is part of the genetic makeup of the Jewish people. Indeed, by all historical accounts we--as a nation--should no longer exist. Many powerful nations have created strategies and policies to physically annihilate, or spiritually decimate, Jews and Judaism to no avail. For this reason alone we should feel an overwhelming sense of Hakarat HaTov to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

In Parashat VaYishlach we read of a different sort of gratitude. This feeling is more internal and less dependent on one's personal circumstances. Yakov Avinu, after making the necessary precautions before his dramatic encounter with Esav, finally approaches his brother and they engage in a dialogue. Esav describes his accomplishments in quantitative terms, focusing on his material gains: "Yesh Li Rav," I have plenty. Yakov's self-analysis, on the other hand, portrays an inner-feeling of being content and appreciative: "Yesh Li Kol," I have all [I need].

By any objective metric, Esav had more than Yakov. More money, more power, more weapons, a bigger family, etc... But Yakov's gratitude to Hashem for providing him with all he needs, allowed Yakov to proclaim he had all--Yesh Li Kol. Here we find another understanding of Hakarat HaTov, another way to express thankfulness. Focusing on what we have, and not what we we are missing, is one of the primary ingredients to happiness. This is Psychology 101, and Yakov was our first professor.

Lets each of us vocalize support and gratitude for the opportunity to live in a Democratic and free country, the United States of America, who is also the greatest supporter of Eretz Yisrael in the world. Let us also recognize the "Kol," the inner-satisfaction we have when we realize Hashem has provided us with our needs.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda Moses Rav HaKehillah/Senior Rabbi

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