HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We grew up in New England where folks really celebrated Thanksgiving with both religious and secular fervor.

Our town was a small town, surrounded by two other even smaller towns. On turkey day, everyone either went to church or synagogue to offer thanks for all the bounty that this country has given us. At one point, the town government got into the act and offered a secular gathering to give thanks as a community united. As was common back then (and as in every bad joke), a priest, rabbi and minister were present to offer non sectarian blessings, invocations, etc.

In our house, thanksgiving was a HUGE holiday. Relatives came from all over to share the bounty of the season. As we had an apple orchard in our yard, dinner usually meant apples in many forms- sauced, baked, fried (fritters), raw, etc.

The meal meant at least two turkeys- that way the two people who both usually fought over the “tuchus” each were guaranteed one. Of course, there were mashed potatoes, potato salad, sweet potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, and sweet potato pie. Invariably someone would show up with a green gelatin (of course, kosher!) dish that tasted about as bad as it looked as it “melted” on its plate. Veggies galore, the kosher version of “Parker House rolls,” cider, chopped liver (hey, after all, it was a Jewish house), turkey soup, salad, home made cranberry sauce and who remembers what else? Dessert meant the aforementioned baked apples, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, chocolate cake, and cookies- all of it home made.

For those of us who grew watching NYC area TV, one local station showed all the monkey movies- King Kong, Bride of Kong, Son of Kong, Mighty Joe Young, and Mighty Joe Young Goes to College and Plays football. Another station had a Three Stooges Marathon. And of course, there were football games galore all day.

After the main meal was served no later than 2:00pm and the table cleared, the table was pushed up against one wall and it was reset with anything that could be eaten cold. Fresh corn bread (rye) and pumpernickel and rolls were put out so we could continue the feast with turkey sandwiches.

At some point during the day, we had recitation. What was recitation? Everyone had to say three things for which they were thankful. Major rule- you could not say something that someone else said. Who ever went first had it easy- thank God for mom and dad, thank God for bubby and zaideh, thank God for my siblings. The rest of us then were stumped. Even the adults used to argue about who went first. But it was an important lesson.

As Jews we thank God every day. “Hodu ladoshem ki tov- give thanks unto the Lord for He is good.” As Americans, it is important for us to give thanks as well.

Happy thanksgiving.