DECEMBER 26 • 2024 | 51

I Thank, Therefore I Am
A 

Drug Enforcement 
Administration officer 
stopped at a ranch in 
Texas and told the old rancher, 
“I need to inspect your ranch for 
illegally grown drugs.” The rancher 
said, “OK, but don’t go into that 
field over there.”
The officer verbally exploded and 
said, “See this badge? It means 
I am entitled to go wherever 
I wish.” The rancher nodded, 
apologized and went about his 
chores.
A short time later, the old 
rancher heard loud screams, 
looked up and saw the DEA 
officer in the field being 
chased by a big bull. The offi-
cer was clearly terrified. The 
rancher threw down his tools, 
ran to the fence and yelled 
at the top of his lungs, “Your 
badge, officer, show him your 
badge. Tell him it entitles you 
to be there.”
If left unchecked, our egos pro-
duce their own “badge of entitle-
ment.” The human ego creates a 
self-important identity that leaves 
us feeling entitled. We can be 
blessed with many gifts in life and 
remain ungrateful because we feel 
that we deserve them, that we have 
it all coming to us. As Jews, we are 
reminded to check our egos and be 
thankful for everything we have. 
Why are Jews called Jews? What 
does the word Jew mean? What is 
its origin?
The ancient Jewish kingdom was 
called the Kingdom of Judah. The 
tribe of Judah was the predominant 
population and represented the 
political and often spiritual lead-
ership of the Jewish people. The 
origin of the term Jew is a deriva-
tive of Judah. It is derived from the 
Hebrew word for thanks (Genesis 
29:35). Judah connotes the expres-
sion of gratitude.
Is the fact that Jews are called 
Jews merely the evolution of his-
torical labeling, or is it a reflection 

of a deeper identity? As a lifelong 
student of Jewish values, I have no 
doubt that gratitude is at the core of 
what Judaism is all about.
The very first word uttered by 
a practicing Jew each morning is 
modeh, thanks. Immediately upon 
wakening, one thanks God for 
renewed life and says, “Thanks I 
offer before You, living and 
eternal King, for You have 
mercifully restored my soul 
within me. Your faithfulness 
is great.”
The rest of the day is per-
meated with further expres-
sions of gratitude for eyesight, 
clothes, intelligence, Torah, 
godliness, livelihood, daily 
miracles, etc.
In fact, Judaism instructs 
its adherents to recite at least 
100 blessings, expressions of 
thanks, every day.
Why?
When we appreciate being 
beneficiaries of so many gifts in life, 
we are more generously inclined to 
share some of these gifts with oth-
ers. Gratitude prompts us to con-
nect with our fellow human beings 
with love and kindness.
Of all the Jewish holidays, 
Chanukah stands out as a holiday 
specifically designated lehodot 
ulechallel, to offer thanks and praise 
to the Almighty.
This Chanukah, let us shed any 
sense of entitlement, be grateful for 
what we have and be even kinder. 
That is what it means to be a Jew. A 
Jew’s badge says, I am unentitled. It 
says, Thank you. Let us embrace our 
Jewish identity of feeling grateful.
Descartes famously formulated 
cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I 
am). The Jewish formula is, I thank, 
therefore I am.
Have a happy and thankful 
Chanukah. 

This article originally appeared in the JN on 

Dec 10, 2015. Rabbi Tzvi Muller is rabbi of the 

Birmingham Bloomfield Shul.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Tzvi 
Muller

Parshat 

Mikketz: 

Genesis 

41:1-44:17; 

Numbers 

7:24-29; 

Zachariah 

2:14-4:7.

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