Thanksgiving - Bringing the Holiday Home

by Rabbi Jerome Epstein

Jews are no strangers to the notion of giving thanks. We acknowledge the Divine three times a day in our prayers, and our Shabbat and yom tov liturgy is filled with praise of God. While Thanksgiving (with a capital "T") is not in itself a Jewish holiday -- obviously, there is no biblical injunction to gather with one's family, eat traditional American fare, and think about Pilgrims and Indians -- it provides us with yet another opportunity to reflect, to praise, and to express our gratitude.

Like most cultural phenomena, Thanksgiving provides us with raw material for a "midrash" that will help us explain our circumstances, cope with life's complexities, and move forward. In a sense, it gives us an opportunity to synthesize two traditions, allowing our Jewish teachings to inform and influence the celebration of this quintessentially American holiday.

We each have personal reasons to give thanks. But it is also appropriate to consider other, more general reasons for expressing gratitude. First, we should be thankful for the special blessings that derive from living in America>. This year, our nation was attacked and many lives were lost. But rather than cause us to question our love and respect for this country, this barbarous act served to remind us of the very reasons we love and admire our nation.

With all of its problems, America remains a democracy where we can be different, affirm our religious identity, practice our unique rituals, build day schools for our young, open summer camps for children of all Jewish denominations, and support a plethora of community organizations. We needn't be fearful to speak out in support of Israel. We have access to legislators, courts, the press and all institutions of government. We have a home where we can live fully as Jews.

Second, we should give thanks because we have survived as a people. We have rebuilt our homeland, Eretz Yisrael, and vibrant Jewish communities can be found all over the world. It is instructive to realize that -- with all that has gone before -- we can still stand up and affirm our Jewishness in a predominantly non-Jewish world.

Third, those of us who gather together with our families and friends enjoy a special blessing. To be surrounded by loved ones is to realize the greatest happiness one can enjoy, and it is certainly an activity applauded by our tradition. The Torah enjoins us to "teach our children." What better, less painful way to do this than over a sumptuous meal, discussing the underlying reason for the gathering. Whether we instruct our children in their obligations to God or their responsibilities toward their fellow man, or toward the environment, the holiday "aura" sets just the right mood for discussions of this kind.

Fourth, it is virtually certain that the American economy will take some time to restore to the position where all families have homes, jobs, and the wherewithal to enjoy large turkey dinners. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to realize that we should not take these gifts for granted. It is also a time to give tzedakah -- to share our bounty with others. We make the holiday ours -- render it more "Jewish" -- by remembering that since our good fortune ultimately comes from God, we are obligated to share it with others.

When stopping to consider those gifts for which we must be grateful, the proper kavanah, or motivation, can elicit surprisingly deep responses. Like everything else in life, what we ultimately gain from the holiday will depend on what we bring to it.

Let us each bring a keen appreciation of our good fortune -- as well as our unique Jewish sensibilities -- to the Thanksgiving table this year, enhancing the experience for ourselves and our loved ones and raising the event from the status of a dinner to the heights of a spiritual celebration.

Let us thank God for our blessings, share them with others, and teach these lessons to our children. Then, truly, the day shall assume the honorary status of a Jewish holiday.