Rabbi Rebecca and the Thanksgiving Leftovers
(c) Rabbi Menachem Creditor
'Twas after Thanksgiving; the gravy had cooled,
rituals practiced, memories fueled,
when Rabbi Rebecca looked up from her book,
to consider all the work that the holiday took.
"It's worth it, of course," she said with a smile,
"but, frankly, it lasts for just such a short while."
She gathered the leftovers, walked out through her door,
to go do a mitzvah, and help feed the poor.
When deep in the innermost part of her heart,
she realized that horses were trailing their carts.
Because waiting for leftovers isn't the way,
to demonstrate Tzedek (the Jew-Justice way).
If gratitude matters, it lives every day.
So all of her students the Rabbi assembled,
to explore what a life of real Tzedek resembles.
"It mustn't be based on what might be left over,"
(c) Rabbi Menachem Creditor
'Twas after Thanksgiving; the gravy had cooled,
rituals practiced, memories fueled,
when Rabbi Rebecca looked up from her book,
to consider all the work that the holiday took.
"It's worth it, of course," she said with a smile,
"but, frankly, it lasts for just such a short while."
She gathered the leftovers, walked out through her door,
to go do a mitzvah, and help feed the poor.
When deep in the innermost part of her heart,
she realized that horses were trailing their carts.
Because waiting for leftovers isn't the way,
to demonstrate Tzedek (the Jew-Justice way).
If gratitude matters, it lives every day.
So all of her students the Rabbi assembled,
to explore what a life of real Tzedek resembles.
"It mustn't be based on what might be left over,"
her star pupil Aaron emphatically told her.
"A Jew is supposed to remember all those,
who haven't a home, or much food, or no clothes.
We can't wait until our nice meals have concluded,
to think about those whom good fortune's eluded.
We learned, back in Egypt, when we were secluded,
that when someone is blessed no one should be excluded."
"You're right," replied Rabbi Rebecca with passion.
Then she sat and she thought in her usual fashion.
And when she looked up and she opened her eyes,
every one of us there felt a tremble inside,
for when our special teacher showed us that special glance,
her students (that's us!) knew we'd each have a chance,
to heal the whole world, by one reachable fraction,
if we'd focus and listen and then follow with action.
Right then Rabbi Rebecca announced her decision,
(she measured her words with much thought and precision)
"Since no act is neutral, no person's immune,
and every soul matters, November and June,
I'm going to make sure that when I have enough,
I make two plates of more of my edible stuff!
I'll walk and I'll surf and I'll bike and I'll drive,
and I'll share my good fortune. I'm blessed I'm alive!"
She looked at us then, saw right into our hearts,
and said softly "I know it's a lot. But just start.
Start the work, though Tzedek's an infinite task.
The mistake lies in waiting for someone to ask
before giving of what we are thankful to own.
No person deserves to be left all alone."
And then Rabbi Rebecca, with her voice loud and clear,
reminded us "thanks lives each day of the year."
who haven't a home, or much food, or no clothes.
We can't wait until our nice meals have concluded,
to think about those whom good fortune's eluded.
We learned, back in Egypt, when we were secluded,
that when someone is blessed no one should be excluded."
"You're right," replied Rabbi Rebecca with passion.
Then she sat and she thought in her usual fashion.
And when she looked up and she opened her eyes,
every one of us there felt a tremble inside,
for when our special teacher showed us that special glance,
her students (that's us!) knew we'd each have a chance,
to heal the whole world, by one reachable fraction,
if we'd focus and listen and then follow with action.
Right then Rabbi Rebecca announced her decision,
(she measured her words with much thought and precision)
"Since no act is neutral, no person's immune,
and every soul matters, November and June,
I'm going to make sure that when I have enough,
I make two plates of more of my edible stuff!
I'll walk and I'll surf and I'll bike and I'll drive,
and I'll share my good fortune. I'm blessed I'm alive!"
She looked at us then, saw right into our hearts,
and said softly "I know it's a lot. But just start.
Start the work, though Tzedek's an infinite task.
The mistake lies in waiting for someone to ask
before giving of what we are thankful to own.
No person deserves to be left all alone."
And then Rabbi Rebecca, with her voice loud and clear,
reminded us "thanks lives each day of the year."
