Thank You G-d for All that You've Created!
New Year's Comes Every Day

Everyone needs a mantra--a song or meditation that each person can repeat to help him or her get through difficulties in life. Mine is the refrain from, what I believe, is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. This is a song composed by the Israel singer Uzi Chitman. The words, translated into English, are as follows:

Thanks for all that you've created,
Thanks for what you've given me

For our eyesight,
A friend or two,
For what I have in the world,
For the song which flows,
And a forgiving heart -Because of all this - I exist

For a child's laughter,
And the blue sky,
For the Earth - and a warm home
A corner to sit in,
A loving companion,
Because of all this - I exist

For a day of happiness,
Innocence and honesty,
For the sad day - which passed and disappeared.
Two thousand cheers,
And hands clapping,
Because of all this - I exist.

I, in particular, need such a mantra because I have been, of late, saddened by the losses of so many young people in our community. My personal relationship to them and the importance they held in our Synagogue has made these losses even more hurtful. And, as a result, I am frequently filled with grief.

What gets me through these crises is this mantra: "Thank you L-rd for all that you have created. Thanks for what you have given me." No matter how short or long I have in this world, I have come to appreciate every moment in it, especially since I am aware that I may not have what I love a moment later. Each and every moment in life has the potential to be packed with love, caring, and devotion. That is why I have to be aware at all times to express my feelings of love for those I care so that they will know how I feel before it is too late.

This particular song is even more meaningful to me now that I learned that the composer Uzi Chitman himself passed away in October at the age of 52. He gave Israel so many songs that have become classics. The beautiful version of Adon Olam that we sometimes sing in the Synagogue is another example of what this individual gave to the world.

All of us give to the world in ways that we can't even measure. Unfortunately, we do not always realize our gifts.

There is a prayer that says that G-d renews creation each and every day. We don't have to wait for the once-a-year celebration of the turn of the calendar because G-d gives us the opportunity to renew our lives daily. We renew ourselves by giving something new to people each day--a new idea, a new thought, a new saying, a new expression of sympathy, a new statement of love, a new purpose in life, a new goal to accomplish. It is through these daily renewals that our lives our refreshed and through which we gain the courage to maintain optimism, despite the losses that we suffer.

So, next time the world gets you down, just repeat the phrase "Thanks for all that You've created. Thanks for what you've given me." Because if we are able to thank G-d for what we have, then we will be better prepared to accept the times when the things we love are taken away from us. If we, at least, tell our loved ones when they are alive how much they meant to us then we will have live by the words of this mantra and will be in a better position to appreciate the rest of our lives.

Happy New Year and make the most out of each moment.

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