Thanks!

Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving.

That the citizens of the United States of America voluntarily offer thanksgiving to G-d for their freedom and the benevolent services offered by individuals and government speaks volumes about the wonderful country we live in.

As Jews, offering thanksgiving is nothing new. We don’t have to look beyond our title, Jews, to appreciate that thanksgiving is an intrinsic part of our being. The Hebrew word for Jew – Yehudi – means, “one who offers thanks.”

Our title is derived from the name Yehudah, one of our tribal heads, who was so named because his mother Leah wanted to express deep gratitude to the Almighty for giving her a fourth son, an unexpected gift.

We assumed the name, Yehudi – Jew, after the disappearance of the Ten Lost Tribes, which left the majority of Jews from the Tribe of Yehudah.

The four letters of G-d’s name appear in the name Yehudah, a symbol that we are invested with G-dliness which we are to convey to the world.

Rabbi Yechezkel Sarna o.b.m. shared the following profound thought: Since everything that exists in the world is the creation of G-d and it all belongs to Him, it would therefore seem impossible for us to return anything to G-d as a gesture of our thankfulness. The only way to do so said Rabbi Sarna, is by calling out to G-d and expressing our thanksgiving and gratitude to the Almighty through prayer, and through strengthening our service and observance of the Torah. Our set daily prayers are replete with references of thanksgiving which affords us the opportunity to express our gratitude and thankfulness to the Almighty.

A while back I heard the following question and insightful explanation: When the Amidah prayer – the eighteen benedictions – is repeated by the Chazan – leader of the prayers, the congregation responds with saying Amain – affirming the blessing. Yet, when the Chazan reaches the prayer of Modim – thanksgiving, the whole congregation chimes in and expresses a prayer of gratitude together with the Chazan. Why can’t the congregation simply affirm with Amain at the conclusion of the Chazan’s expression of thanksgiving?

The answer is that when one makes a statement or asks for something, those listening can suffice with a mere affirmation. But when someone expresses gratitude to the Almighty, one cannot simply affirm or nod their head, one has to verbally express their gratitude. That is why we recite Modim together with the Chazan. Such is the nature of offering sincere thanksgiving.

In this week’s Parsha the Torah speaks about Yosef’s travails. He was sold by his brothers and eventually sold as a slave to an officer of the Pharoh. A while later he was imprisoned on false allegation. The Torah points out the same thing about Yosef in both settings; “His master saw that G-d was with him.” Rashi explains that Yosef attributed all his abilities and successes to the Almighty. As an inmate in jail, the warden recognized that G-d was with Yosef and placed him in charge. In next week’s Parsha we will learn that Yosef interpreted Pharoh’s dreams, and when Pharoh commended him for his skills, Yosef immediately attributed his gifts to G-d.

My father o.b.m. pointed out that whenever a Jew attributes his successes to the Almighty it leaves little room for others to be jealous of him since they see that he expresses that it has nothing to do with his own talents, skill and intellect – for it comes from the Almighty.

The festive Holiday of Chanukah is this Sunday night.

One year at a family Chanukah Party when my father o.b.m. spoke he said the following idea. He wondered if the practice of giving presents on Chanukah was borrowed from the secular culture. He then turned it around. “I think it has to do with the theme of Chanukah which is, ‘Lehodos – to give thanksgiving and Hallel – praise to the Almighty.’ When one receives a gift, they naturally give thanks and appreciation to the giver. Upon receiving a gift we are in the mode of offering thanks to the one who gave the gift. This sense of gratitude causes us to offer gratitude to the Almighty who is the ultimate Giver of all the blessings in our life!

 

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