As the new year approaches, with the recession still in force, I find myself giving thanks to God for all the things that cost nothing and are worth everything.
I thank Him for the love that has filled our home for so many years. Life is never easy. We’ve had our share of pain. But through it all we discovered the love that brings new life into the world, allowing us to share in the miracle of birth and the joy of seeing our children grow.
I thank Him for the blessing of grandchildren. I don’t know why it is I was so surprised by joy, but in their company my constant thought is that I didn’t know that life could be that good. I thank Him for the friends who stood by us in tough times, for the mentors who believed in me more than I believed in myself, and for the teachers who encouraged me to think and question, teaching me the difference between truth and mere intellectual fashion.
It is too cold and too late (11.20 pm) here in London for me to go out and buy a copy of the The Times to check, but I am surprised that the article has the Chief Rabbi writing the word God. I may be wrong, but I believe that Dr Sacks follows Orthodox usage in usually writing G-d. The Holy One is not to be casually named or written down, and so is written with a dash, as a sign, too of divine transcendence. I have always been impressed by this Jewish mark of respect, and wonder whether the internet version of this article differs from the print version.
Terry, it probably got caught by a goyim spell checker.