The Doral Family Journal, a bilingual newspaper in Florida, has dedicated their 100th-anniversary edition to honor all the families living in Doral, a city located in Miami-Dade County.
One of those families profiled by Grecia Romero in honor of Thanksgiving was the Shluchim family of Doral titled “Gratitude, Appreciation and Sharing.”
Here is the article:
Rabbi Avrohom and Zelda Brashevitzky are originally from Brooklyn, NY. They moved to Doral around 10 years ago to establish the Chabad Jewish Center of Doral, “an outreach Jewish Community based organization geared towards bringing all Jews together and at the same time bringing Judaism’s message of a better world and good values to all”. They started from their own home and now they have their own center / synagogue on NW 58 St.
In addition to working with the local Jewish residents and business community, Rabbi Brashevitzky has devoted himself to serve the entire City of Doral community, which he considers as family, through volunteering on the advisory boards and serving as one of the Chaplains of the Police Department.
They have 10 children. The oldest is 18 and studying in Israel, and the youngest is just 5 months old. For them, family is a precious treasure, they consider family and extended family as their life.
Years ago they had a very personal experience that stablished a new tradition for them, a new thanksgiving celebration: “When we moved to Doral, it was before Passover (May/April) and we were expecting many guests. Zeldie went shopping for a very large pot for chicken soup. All the stores did not have any large pots. Upon inquiry with one of the managers she was told that they only carry large cookware during “cooking season”, namely Thanksgiving…”
“When Zeldie shared this information with me I had an Epiphany: In our home (as well as in every Jewish observant home) – every week is “cooking season.” We sit down for an elaborate dinner every Friday evening to celebrate Shabbat.
“Whether it was a good or bad week – we sit down together as a family with friends and guests. It occurred to me to implement the following idea: ‘Every Friday Eve dinner we go around the table and everybody says something they are thankful for’ – That occurred that week!”
Since that day, they express their gratitude, sharing and appreciating everything they have… “Why wait for once a year to be thankful? So many good things happen every week, we should give thanks and show appreciation more often!” they say.
They consider that “Thanksgiving is a great Holiday, and it should be celebrated with family (not online for some materialistic things)”.
But they advise that “we should utilize it to thank God for all the good we have. However, it is to our benefit to also do so (at least in small measure) more often than once a year”, especially for “our family because having a family to share their time with, even to whom to complain or a shoulder to cry on is a lot to be thankful for!”
This is what it’s all about from a Mechutan
Actually I have a similar custom. Friday night after the fish I pick up the becher holding the remaining kiddush wine, and thank the Aibershter for everything He gives me and everything He does for me. My “list” includes many things we tend to take for granted. When I get to the end I say l’chaim and Good Shabbos to the Ribbono Shel Olam and drink the wine. 🙂