Image: A cartoon of pumpkin pie, with words of thanks on it. (John Hain / Pixabay)
Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday of the year in our household.
That may sound funny, since I’m a rabbi, but I’m also an elder in an interfaith family. Linda and I are Jews. Our sons are both secular agnostics. Other members of our extended family of choice are cultural Christians or Catholics. Thanksgiving may have a problematic history, but it is the day that we’re all on the same page: we love one another, and we love to eat together.
This year, after some anguished conversations with various family members, we decided that we would not come together for the day, not even the two households that share a bubble. The issue was that if we couldn’t ALL come together, we’d be leaving others out. Leaving someone out of Thanksgiving was unthinkable, so instead we came up with a new plan.
We’re dropping off goodies at each other’s front doors, and Linda and I are available to Zoom with anyone who wants to Zoom. We haven’t worked out all the details, but the emotion driving this decision is love. We love each other too much to risk someone getting sick.
There’s a Jewish name for this plan: it’s called shmirat haguf, guarding the body, or guarding health. It is based on a verse in Torah:
Guard your self and your soul most carefully
Deuteronomy 4:9
Maimonides, a physician, wrote a chapter on health in the Mishneh Torah, his great code of Jewish law:
Since the maintenance of the body in health and wholeness is God’s way, (for it is impossible that one should understand or know any of the divine knowledge concerning the Creator while sick) it is necessary for a person to stay away from things which destroy the body, and make habits in things which are healthful and life-imparting.
Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot De’ot, 4:1 (my translation)
We are all tired of COVID-19. We miss the people we used to hug so freely, and our routines, like a cup of coffee at a favorite cafe. Some of us are angry, and some are afraid. Some are worried that medical advice has been tainted with politics.
All I know is that it would break my heart if I thought someone in my family got sick from sitting at my table. This year, we will say, “Next year, at the same table!” And this year, we will phone each other and say, “I love you.” And that will have to be enough.
I will visit my daughter in law and her family next week.
I am very tired of the social isolation. I can’t take it any more.
It makes me crazy.
I will be going to Woodland Hills.
Look, I am socially isolated anyway because of my husband’s death. My birth family is in touch but they live a thousand miles away. Some
members aren’t close emotionally in any case.
Rabbi, your wife is at your side. Surely it makes your life much easier.
I know Dr. Fauci is right but have a heart. What’s the solution to sheltering in place?
Where’s the comfort in this?
I hope that your Thanksgiving will be enjoyable on Zoom.
Our friends will not be gathering this year…too many risks.
But we’re going to try Facetime and see if we can at least play games remotely.
I’ll be doing the Thanksgiving dinner for me and my husband.
Next year will be better. With a new real President who will be inaugurated in January, the virus will get under control. Have hope, Have faith.
I hope your Thanksgiving Day is as good as it possibly can be.
I love this!