A Note From Rabbi Raina Siroty
This year, on Thanksgiving, November 26, 2020, I will be joyously celebrating the 2nd year anniversary of “Gotcha day.” For those of you not familiar, “Gotcha Day" is a term for the anniversary of the day on which a person joins a family. It is also called "Homecoming Day" or "Family Day", although the date may be different from date on which the legal adoption becomes final. Yes, it was 2 years ago that Gabriel arrived into my life as a foster child. Just 2 years and 4 months old, he was labeled non-verbal, didn’t know his name and had a bad temper. He cried and bit, and was very angry. Gabriel was a handful. But I loved my boy from the minute I laid eyes on him and I knew that showering him with love would bring out the best in him.
On March 3rd of this year Gabriel’s legal adoption was finalized and I am happy to report that he talks way too much, he is affectionate, empathetic, has a great sense of humor and at 4 he is already starting to read and write. I can’t even remember life before him. We are so blessed to have a live-in, hands-on Mimi, Melody. Gabriel also enjoys a warm relationship with his maternal grandmother, Nana Karen and maternal grandfather, Peepaw Bill. Gabriel has a younger, full brother named Slade who was adopted as an infant before Gabriel. Slade lives in Alexandria with his parents, now Gabriel’s Aunt and Uncle and the boys go to school together. The boys know they are brothers and Slade manages to bite Gabriel at least once a week. Little did I know on November 26, 2018 that God would bless me with a beautiful son AND we would also become a part of Gabriel’s family.
I am so blessed. Although this year has been a difficult one, there is still a lot to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is, in many ways, the summation of the heart of faith: gratitude, peace and love.
Wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to celebrating Shabbat with you on Friday, ON ZOOM only at 6 pm.
L’Shalom, Rabbi Raina
I invite you to share this poem I will be reading at our Thanksgiving table,
by Rabbi Maralee Gordon.
In this moment, mindful of our many blessings,
may we form an intent to carry gratitude with us continually.
May we leave fear and jealousy by the wayside,
making room in our hearts for contentment, satisfaction and compassion.
May we start each day counting our blessings:
the blessing of being alive,
the many miracles of the living world we are one with,
the ability we possess to love and to be loved,
the many gifts and talents we have been graced with,
the support we receive
and the support we are able to extend.
May our gratitude lead to action:
May we express our gratitude.
May we smile when we encounter each other on the path,
may we seek opportunities to share our talents with others,
may we express our love to one another,
may we give with no expectation of receiving.
May we seek to repair what is broken.
May we end each day counting the day’s blessings,
those we have received and those we have bestowed.
May we be a blessing.
Amen
