The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV).

My husband Jim and I have a tradition. Often we are the hosts for Thanksgiving dinner. There is much to be done for this annual traditional American holiday. The table is set for family and extended family and guests. The turkey is stuffed and in the oven at midnight the night before.

The menu is the same year by year, but the complicated part is that everything needs to come together all at once. The potatoes mashed, the gravy made, the turkey sliced–white meat on one platter, dark on the other. The vegetables need to be hot. All of those things need to be ready at the precise moment we sit down to eat.

Although that is what needs to be done before dinner while we prepare for dinner is the tradition I want to tell you about. We watch the musical Fiddler on the Roof. The story is a beautiful one telling the many conflicts of raising a family. The family is Jewish and they have their traditions, just as we Americans have the traditional Thanksgiving meal. As we check on the turkey in the oven, make sure the serving bowls are ready, what can be dished up in advance placed in pretty dishes, everything that can possibly be prepared before the big event, we watch the movie and sing along.

The Scripture found in the Old Testament–Numbers–are words I would like extend to you to conclude 2022 and look to 2023. A blessing or benediction.

May the Lord bless you. May he keep you. And make his face shine upon you. And be gracious to you. May he lift his countenance (approval or favor) upon you, And give you peace.

Enjoy the “Sabbath Prayer” from Fiddler on the Roof.

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