Seeing the Good
A 21-Day Practice for Cultivating Gratitude
An Introductory Note from Rabbi Andrea Goldstein: I conceived of this practice to cultivate gratitude after listening to numerous interviews with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin (z”l). In these interviews, Goldberg-Polin described her first act after awakening each day of reciting the words of Modah Ani, Judaism’s prayer of gratitude. In Hebrew, the idiomatic expression for gratitude is hakarat hatov, which literally means “seeing the good.” It seemed to me that reciting Modah Ani each day was part of what helped Goldberg-Polin maintain her ability to hold onto goodness and hope – even during her darkest days. Waking each morning and praying Modah Ani was part of Rachel Goldberg-Polin’s regular spiritual practice before October 7th. In thinking about this, I began to wonder about the strength and hope a community could find together if it committed itself to this same spiritual practice.
If you do not normally begin your day with a prayer, it will take some time for this habit or spiritual practice to form. While there is no scientific evidence that we can begin or break a habit in 21 days, committing to three weeks of daily practice is a good way to know if this is a practice that can become a meaningful one for you.
2025 Seeing the Good: Day 13
November 18, 2025
Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted – a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.
– Rabbi Harold Kushner, author
2025 Seeing the Good: Day 12
November 17, 2025
Blessed are those who can give without remembering
and receive without forgetting.
-Author Unknown
2025 Seeing the Good: Day 11
November 16, 2025
Do you see
the sun shines, day after day
whether you have faith or not
the sparrows continue
to sing their song
even when you forget to sing yours….
Life is not a straight line
it’s a downpour of gifts, please—
hold out your hand
– Julia Fehrenbacher, poet
2025 Seeing the Good: Day 10
November 15, 2025
Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
– Voltaire, writer and philosopher
2025 Seeing the Good: Day 9
November 14, 2025
Praying. It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.
– Mary Oliver, poet
2025 Seeing the Good: Day 8
November 13, 2025
If you have done a large kindness for your neighbor, let it be in your eyes a small matter. If your neighbor extended to you a small kindness, let it be in your eyes a large favor.
-Avot d’Rabbi Nathan 41:11, 9th century CE, Babylonia
Modeh | Modah Ani
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מלך חַי וְקַיָּם שֶהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ
Modeh/Modah ani l’fanecha, melech chai v’kayam, shehechezarta bi nishmati b’chemla, raba emunatecha
I am grateful before You, living and enduring Presence, with compassion You have returned my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness.
Below are two different melodies of Modeh/Modah Ani, performed by Lucy Greenbaum, Congregation Shaare Emeth’s former Director of Music Engagement.