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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