Temple Beth El Joined with the Interfaith Gathering of Thanksgiving and Hope

At Tuesday night’s Interfaith Gathering of Thanksgiving and Hope, Rabbi Cassi asked, “What gives you hope at this challenging time?” We heard many powerful answers, including children, community, kindness, family, friends, God, and even photosynthesis. She continued, “In reflecting on some of the many things that give me hope, including TBE. I am consistently inspired by the spirit of volunteerism, the generosity of time, wisdom, and resources, and the care and compassion that exists within our community. TBE is a thriving community because of you.”

If you missed this Interfaith Thanksgiving service, you may watch it here or by going to the Temple Beth El or San Pedro Faith Consortium’s Facebook pages.

Since Tuesday night’s program, several community members asked where they can donate to support our community’s most vulnerable members. These are a couple of options:

• TBE has a Social Action Fund. It supports many programs, such as Family Promise of the South Bay (which aids families who are unhoused so that they can become self-sufficient), the Shower project (which provides hot showers, clean clothes, hot meals, and medical resources to people in need), offering sandwiches several Saturdays per month for people who are homeless, and making delicious hot meals for people in need on special holidays. This Sunday, for example, we will be providing hot meals through our partnership with the Garden Church. A similar effort is in the works for the end of December.
• Temple Beth El is part of the San Pedro Faith Consortium, which has a seat on the Harbor Relief Fund‘s Board. This organization offers support to people who are in need due to COVID-19. If you are facing financial challenges, you may apply for a grant to help cover some of your expenses. As many people are applying for aid, please mention Rabbi Cassi Kail’s name in your application.

May everyone have a meaningful and joyous Thanksgiving. Rabbi Cassi would like to share with you a liturgical poem by the masterful Alden Solovy from his book, This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day, and she invites you to read it at your Thanksgiving table.

Meditation at the Thanksgiving Table

G-d on high,
What an abundance of gifts
Arrayed before us.
Food, family, friends.
Your bounty and grace.
Let us remember those in need,
And those who are also present here in silence:
The fruit and vegetables picked by migrant workers.
The fields planted and picked by underpaid laborers
In the cold rain and blazing sun.
The clothing made by children in factories,
Modern day slaves indentured by poverty.
Let me remember those who suffer daily
Alone and in fear.
Perhaps someone at this table or in a home nearby
Is nursing a broken heart,
Or hiding the secret of addiction, violence, trauma or pain,
Someone whose sorrows and losses are judged and shunned
By our neighbors and our society.
Let this day be the beginning of a deeper love for all beings.
Let this day be the beginning of healing for all creatures.
Let this day be the foundation of service to Your world.
Let this moment be for rejoicing in all Your gifts.
Thank you,
G-d on High,
For the gifts placed before us:
The awareness of suffering and
The opportunity to heal,
The abundance in our lives and
Your call to share these riches
In love.