Shalom all!

Today is Thanksgiving day. Though it is an American holiday, I want to take a few minutes and share with you what I, Alon – the guy who takes your prayers to the Western Wall – am thankful for this day.

First of all, I’m thankful for being given such an incredible gift. I was given the ability to give people hope, and giving hope is perhaps the greatest thing I’ll ever do. I know I helped people, I know I gave hope, belief, self-confidence, and I’m thankful I’m in a position to help people in a such a profound way.

I am thankful for your trust. Complete strangers trust me – a guy in a far away country they don’t know – with their most personal feelings, wishes, aspirations. Sometimes I can’t believe it myself. Thank you.

I am thankful I created something truly great (or at least I consider it to be truly great). Not many people are so lucky to create something that affects so many lives, and I am grateful I managed to help the thousands of people I did. I know I play a small role, but I also know it’s a meaningful role.

I am thankful I made a change. Many of you write in and tell me your prayer was answered, tell me your life is better now, and thank me for my help. I am the one saying thanks, because I’m happy to know I had a part in making small changes that make some people’s lives somewhat better. I only wish these people would “pay it forward” and help the people around them. If they would, the world will quickly become a slightly better place to live in. Think about it.

I am thankful for the people who came through for me and helped with this project: my brother, parents and beloved ones, old and new friends, including the many new friends on Twitter who pinched in and helped from where they are in the world. (Read, for instance, this)

I am thankful for the love I get from you. I feel that some of you really care about me, and I am thankful for that. Maybe it’s not right for me to feel this way, but the truth is that your love is truly important for me.

UPDATE: Just now I received this tweet:

This Thanksgiving, I count you as a gift for which I am thankful. Thank you, and you are appreciated!

That’s the love I’m talking about!

I am also thankful for the optimism, happiness, and self-confidence the success of this project had given me. (Read this, for example). I am thankful I learned that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to (read here).

I am thankful my life was saved. (read more here)

♦

Feel free to write in the comments what you gives thanks for – I’d love to know.

Related posts:

1. Calling it a day
2. My Inspirational Talk
3. A quick update about @TheKotel