A Thanksgiving Tale: Welcoming Afghan Families to Atlanta

There is a wonderful ritual on Thanksgiving of sharing those things for which we are thankful. This usually happens during the meal and is not very complicated. One person starts by sharing gratitude followed by the next person and, then, the next, culminating in everybody eating that sweet potato casserole with the marshmallows melted on top. This is a beautiful tradition, but it's a bit strange for the holiday of Thanksgiving. How so? Well, it's all in the name! The holiday is called, "Thanksgiving," not "Giving Thanks Day." If the holiday is about giving thanks, then we need to name it that. That should be another holiday. I propose maybe a weekly holiday that starts with sundown on Friday night and goes until sundown Saturday night. I'm just spit-balling here, but, maybe, we can start this weekly "Giving Thanks" holiday with lighting a candle…. no, wait… let's light two candles! Maybe we can bake twisted bread with enough sugar that we should call it cake, but we don't. You come up with a name and I think we are on to something here.

Since the holiday on the last Thursday in November is called Thanksgiving, I think we need to do what the name implies and 'Give' that which we are thankful for. I know that many people already do this as Thanksgiving is a wonderful day of volunteerism. Those of us thankful for food on our table volunteer at shelters or our Atlanta Community's Hosea Feed the Hungry event on Thanksgiving. Those of us grateful for time with family volunteer at assisted care facilities and hospitals to give orderlies and attendants some time off to be with their family. There are so many ways to give to others that which we ourselves are thankful for. That is what I believe the name of Thanksgiving implies. And I couldn't be prouder of our spiritual family this past week when they gave of their gratitude for a safe, secure, and warm home.

Our very own AARI (Ahavath Achim Refugee Initiative) set up an apartment for two single Afghani mothers and their children. This project started many months ago as our co-chairs of AARI, Carol Glickman and Randy Crohn, began exploring the possibilities for our community's engagement with the refugee communities here in Georgia. AARI joined New American Pathways and its warehouse arm, The Welcome Co-Op, as well as the International Rescue Committee, in furnishing an apartment in Clarkston for Afghan refugees recently arrived in Atlanta. This family consisted of two single mothers with four young children between them. AARI sought to make their apartment show that we are happy they are here. Our AARI task force provided comfy bedding, towels, cookware, tableware (even some child-sized glasses and cutlery!), and a beautiful dining table where everyone could sit down at one time. The AARI set-up team of four (Myrtle Lewin, Dan Finer, and Patsy and Bill Little) worked with John, Clay, and Jonathan from The Welcome Co-Op to make beds (from the frame up!) arrange the kitchen and checked to make sure all systems were working (including finding out where to turn on the water heater, and how to get the plumber to the apartment fast).

This project, however, was more than just interior design. AARI started many months ago with a call for furniture and other household donations, and our spiritual family (YOU) have given generously. Being Jewish means that we understand what it means to be a stranger in a strange land. Our Torah repeatedly commands us to love the stranger because we were strangers in Egypt. AARI not only put our Thanksgiving value into action but also our Torah values. On behalf of our AARI task force, synagogue staff and leadership, we wish you a very meaningful and joyous Thanksgiving. Thank you for your generosity and giving of yourself so freely and graciously.