Cholent is a traditional Jewish stew.  According to Wikipedia, Ashkenazi-style cholent was first mentioned in 1180, in the writings of Rabbi Yitzhak of Vienna.  However, it is likely that variations and forms of cholent and meals that were cooked like cholent have been made from biblical times.

Also according to Wikipedia, the “The First Thanksgiving” was held in 1621 and included a feast between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians in Plymouth Colony.   In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed a national day in which to express thanks for the many blessings enjoyed by Americans (see below for the text of President Lincoln’s Declaration).

While much has changed in the 149 years since Lincoln declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday and even more has changed in the 391 years since the “First Thanksgiving” in 1621, our cholent and many other things in our Jewish tradition have remained constant.

Join us in Friday night services tonight, 11/23, at 7:00 pm and tomorrow morning, 11/24, at 9:00 am at Beth El.  Cholent will be served tomorrow after services.

Cantor Ben Moshe Message: This week’s parshah, Vayetze, deals with the life of our patriarch Ya’kov outside the Land of Canaan. Fleeing his brother Esav’s wrath at being tricked out of the blessing of the firstborn, he goes to his uncle Lavan in Haran. There, he himself is tricked more than once by his uncle, who switches brides on him and tries to cheat him out of payment for his labor. Ya’akov attempts to run from the consequences of his deception, and finds himself deceived. As is so often the case, his troubles follow him. Most if not all of us can relate to our ancestor’s predicament-in trying to avoid problems, we find them in new forms in a new place. Not until Ya’kov deals with his problems head-on does he find relief from them. May we all profit from Ya’akov’s example, and deal with the obstacles in our lives honestly and forthrightly.  As I write this it is Thanksgiving Day. I am grateful for all the blessings in my life, not the least of which is the opportunity to serve such a warm and friendly community. May we all continue to be mindful of the blessing which is each other’s company.

 

A Proclamation. By the President of the United States of America, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State