Shalom My Gantseh Megillah Family and Friends,

This is a very special time of year for all of us. Next week the Thanksgiving holiday will be celebrated by American families of all faiths, followed shortly by the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. In the spirit of this joyous and contemplative season, I will not deal with any political or controversial matters.

There is a time and a place for everything and this is the time for us to take a close look at those people who play such important parts in our lives. How have we treated them during the past year? Have we made ourselves available to them when they were in need of consolation or assistance? Did we put aside our own selfish needs in order to help better the lives of those we love rather than seek to satisfy number one first?

I realize that some of these questions do not seem particularly loving or warm, but they are based on events I witness countless times over the years. There are many people who freely claim to love and support each other, and yet never seem to have the time or resources to spare when one of them is in need. Hugs and kisses are exchanged in abundance around the holiday table, but when the dishes dry, and the holiday lights fade, old feelings of resentment begin to surface once again. Ugly petty jealousies, unfair judgments, and just plain callous disregard all too often replace the protestations of love and concern.

If we truly love our family and friends, than we must show that love each and every day of the year. There are inevitably times of disagreement, but those occasions should be dealt with honestly and in a healing manner, and not carried by gossipy tales and subverted hostile feelings. If we sincerely love someone, we should want nothing less than to discuss our differences and find solutions to the problems that exist between us.

Families and friendships are very precious commodities in our lives. True friends are not easy to find, and often they can be as close if not closer than blood relatives. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could treat our family as we do our friends, and make all of them as one in our hearts and lives?

This Thanksgiving, Arnold and I will be sitting down at the dinner table with our dearest friends, in their home, with their extended family. Yet we do not feel as if we are outsiders being invited in. Because of the closeness we have developed over the years, we feel as if we are very much a part of the family gathered at this table. It would be so comforting to sit down at a table of biological family members and feel as if we are totally among friends.

This is my wish for Thanksgiving and Chanukah. May all of us hold our friends and family in the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds, as being the true blessings of our lives.

Much love to all of you.

Michael