What does Thanksgiving mean to most of us--a day off from school, dinner with family and friends, movies, sleeping late? It's true, there is definitely much to be excited about! Yet, above all else, Thanksgiving is a day when we thank Hashem for what we have. It is a day when we can think of our own lives, what we have been blessed with, and what we need to be thankful for.I personally understand this important day as one in which I can be Makir Tov, recognizing the amazing opportunities that America has given to my family. All this being said, however, I believe there is a fundamental question that we as Jews need to ask ourselves. Aren't we obliged to thank Hashem every day? From the time we wake up in the morning until the time we go to sleep at night, we are constantly thanking Hashem for the things that we have. Moreover, we have specific days set aside such as Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur in which we can spend time focusing on our lives.
So why do we really need a "Thanksgiving"? Isn't it superfluous? The answer, I believe, is fundamental to the core values of who we are as Jews living in America. It's true that as Jews we must always thank Hashem for everything that we have; however, it is also important for there to be times when we go above and beyond in our focus. Thanksgiving is a time when we take the time to remember that as Jews we have never truly had the freedom to practice our religion the way that these United States of America have afforded us. I can walk the streets with a kippah on my head, not worried about getting beaten up, or worse, by those who disagree with my religious practices. In this great country, I can be a proud Jew, living in relative calm and security, and that is something that is worthy of setting aside a day for. May this Thanksgiving be a time of introspection and reflection for who we are, where we come from, and the opportunities that Hashem has granted us in this great country.
- Rabbi Dr. Noam Weinberg
Principal, Judaic Studies
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