blogs/rabbi-huberman

Parashat Tzav

“The more we celebrate the good, the more good we discover that it is worthy of celebration.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

The Nuns Study

What can a study of 678 nuns teach us about becoming more contented human beings with longer, happier lives?

In 1990, the Sisters School of Notre Dame launched a study—commonly known as The Nuns Study -- to examine the onset and longevity of Alzheimer’s disease in people aged 75-102.

This study was especially interesting because 60 years earlier -- in 1930 -- the nuns entering the school were asked to submit brief autobiographies.

Most had joined the order during their late teens or early 20s. Since 1930, their lives had been similar; they followed similar routines and were exposed to similar influences.

By examining some of the nuns’ early positive and negative emotions, researchers sought to find a connection between their physical and mental health 60 years later. 

Published in 2001, the results were startling.  The researchers concluded that the more positive emotions expressed by the nuns in 1930, the more likely they were to be alive and healthy in 1990.

What did these happier and healthier nuns have in common? In their initial interviews, they demonstrated a sense of gratitude, hope, contentment and thankfulness.

The study concluded that a focus on these positive emotions can improve physical health and increase immunity to disease.

In a nutshell—more thankfulness, less emotional toxins. More inner peace, better sleep. Less jealousy and resentment, better relationships and more self-satisfaction.

How interesting it is that more than 3,000 years before this study, Judaism recognized the importance of gratitude and thankfulness in our daily lives. And that bias toward “thank you” is reflected in this week’s Torah portion, Tzav (Command).

Israelites roaming the desert and subsequent generations -- to express their deep feelings -- would bring something of value to the Temple for sacrifice. Most of the sacrifices centered on absolving sin and guilt.

But one of them was dedicated to thankfulness.

These days, how often do we blame God during times of adversity? Perhaps asking ,“Why?” is part of the human condition.

But do we always focus the same attention on expressing, “thanks?”

The Talmud outlines a series of life events that warrant expressions of gratitude. It speaks about having completed a dangerous journey, having recovered from an illness or having overcome hardship.

Can we relate?

A volunteer fireman in our congregation comes to synagogue regularly and recites a prayer of thanksgiving, known as Gomel, after every fire he is called to.

Another member of congregation, having enjoyed an expectedly successful year in business, once appeared in my office and offered a substantial contribution to our Hebrew school. “I just want to say thank you to a higher power,” he said.

The Talmud notes that when we make saying “thank you” part of our daily routine, we express our gratitude to a higher power—a recognition that not all we experience and endure on this earth is out of our hands.

Judaism is built upon that scaffolding.

We are told on Yom Kippur to let go of our inner trash. Rabbis encourage us before Pesach to release our spiritual bloat.

In ancient times, animal sacrifices served this purpose. (This week’s parashah contains an exhausting list of animal sacrifices.)

Now we give tzedakah—charity—to say “thank you” for the birth of a child or grandchild, the longevity of our parents, success in our career or financial endeavors, or in memory of someone we have loved.

As Rabbi Sacks wrote, “Giving thanks is beneficial to the body and the soul. It contributes to both happiness and health.

“It is also a self-fulfilling attitude; the more we celebrate the good, the more good we discover that it is worthy of celebration.”

Indeed, as we look around at our lives, we have so much to be grateful for.

Sometimes we forget—but it is so important to say “thank you” for something or someone who has improved our lives.

Ken Blanchard, author of the One Minute Manager, talked about the sacred value of, “catching someone doing something right.”

Within our daily struggles, as we surge toward from challenge to challenge, taking time to give charity or thank someone can seem time-consuming or unnatural, but the Torah reminds us that saying, “thank you” is an integral part of life.

The sacred rabbinical commentary, Leviticus Rabbah notes, “In time to come, there will be no sacrifices except for the offering of thanksgiving, and there will be no prayers except for prayers of thanksgiving.”

How much better this world would be if we paused to thank the person next to us for their friendship, their honesty, their companionship, their patience and their love.

And sometimes it is healthy and the right thing to do, if we express thanks for someone we have failed to thank in our past.

The Nuns Study reinforced the notion that we are better people when we instill positivity into our lives and take the time to express gratitude.

Indeed, saying “thank you” -- letting go of our spiritual toxins -- liberates us from the plague of negativity currently affecting this world.

If we did that, how much longer and happier we would live.

And if we extended that feeling of thankfulness to those around us and beyond…

What a wonderful world this would be.

Shabbat shalom. v’kol tuv

Rabbi Irwin Huberman