With Gratitude: A Thanksgiving Message

With Thanksgiving approaching—a very “Jew-ish” holiday—I find myself reflecting on gratitude, a value embedded deeply in our shared Jewish identity. In Hebrew, you can’t spell Yehudi (Jew) without hoda’ah (gratitude). Jewish tradition teaches that blessing and gratitude are inseparable; as the poet and philosopher Judah HaLevi taught, through our prayers and blessings we keep God present in our hearts. In this way, our blessings become our Jewish “grati-tunes,” expressions of thanks that naturally rise up in song. 

From the Song at the Sea to the joyful call of the Psalms, our ancestors teach us that gratitude leads us to lift our voices. When we truly see the blessings in our lives, we respond with music, joy, and community. Over the past year and a half as your cantor, I have become profoundly aware of the blessings within our Temple Beth-El family. I have 'heard the melodies' of your "gratitunes" in so many forms: 

• New parents singing prayers joyfully as their children are blessed and welcomed into the Jewish people.

• Families in mourning expressing gratitude for the compassion and comfort they receive when it's needed the most.

• The in unison and heartfelt “Shabbat Shalom!” I hear the moment I step into the Joske Foyer. 

• The songs of our Kol Simcha Adult Choir and Temple's new Kol Rina Youth Choir, whose enthusiasm fills our Oppenheimer Chapel and follows them home. 

These moments are the soundtrack of our community—and each one deepens my own "gratitune" to God for guiding me to San Antonio, where I have been met with love, trust, and overwhelming support - thanks to each and every one of you. 

YOU are the heartbeat of our Temple. YOU transform our Beth-El Dome from a building into a home. And because of that - WE Are Temple. 

With "gratitune" for every one of you.

Give in Gratitude

-Cantor Seth Ettinger

Cantor

11/19/25