Flickr user vistamommy, Thank you 001, CC BY 2.0
From a young age, we learn from our parents that if someone does something nice for us, we should say "Thank you."
When it comes to recognizing and thanking God for all of the goodness that we receive, we look to Jewish liturgy (prayer) for the words and opportunities for thanking.
Below are five examples of Jewish prayers of thanks.
When are they said? How specific is our thanks?
Discussion questions follow each prayer.
Text #1: The Modim blessing in the Amidah
- How often is this prayer said?
- On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being not specific at all and 5 being very specific, how specific is this prayer in terms of what we are thanking for?
- What do you like about this prayer?
- What would you change in this prayer?
- When would you like to say this prayer?
Text #2 The First Psalm of Hallel
This is the first Psalm that is said in the Hallel service. Hallel consists of an opening blessing, the recitation of Psalms 113-118, and a closing blessing.
- When is Hallel said?
- Skim through the selections from Psalms that comprises Hallel. What is the overall theme?
- Do you consider Hallel a prayer of thanksgiving? Why or why not?
Text #3 Shehecheyanu
The Shehecheyanu blessing:
One who wears a new article of clothing for the first time or one who eats a fruit for the first time during its yearly growing cycle says the following blessing:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this day.
- How often is the Shehechiyanu said? Are there other times that it is said besides what is mentioned in the explanation in the siddur above?
- On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being not specific at all and 5 being very specific, how specific is this prayer in terms of what we are thanking for?
- What do you like about the prayer? What, if anything, would you change in the prayer?
- When have you said this prayer? How did saying Shehechiyanu make you feel?
- What effect do you think saying this prayer has on a person?
Text #4 Birkat Hagomel - Prayer of Thanksgiving
מִי שֶׁגְּמָלְךָ טוב. הוּא יִגְמָלְךָ כָּל טוב סֶלָה:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who rewards the undeserving with goodness, and who has rewarded me with goodness.
Congregation responds "amen" and says:
May He who rewarded you with goodness reward you with all goodness forever.
- When is Birkat Hagomel said? By whom? (Research the answer on the internet, if necessary)
- How does this blessing differ from all of the prayers above?
- On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being not specific at all and 5 being very specific, how specific is this prayer in terms of what we are thanking for?
- Birkat Hagomel is said in a minyan (quorum). Why do you think it must be said in the presence of the congregation? Why do you think the congregation participates in the blessing by responding to the person saying the blessing?
Text #5 Thanksgiving prayers from the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London, 1878
From the collection of the National Library of Israel
This booklet contains special Thanksgiving prayers that were added during services on Saturday, July 20, 1878 in the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London. The special prayers were said to thank God for the emancipation of the Jews in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania. Before this time, Jews did not have the same civil rights as other people living in these countries. Beginning with the granting of citizenship to the Jews of France in 1791, Jews in many countries were also "emancipated" or granted civil rights at various times.
- How often were these prayers said?
- On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being not specific at all and 5 being very specific, how specific is this prayer in terms of what we are thanking for?
- Were the people who said these prayers the same people who had recently received civil rights? What was the connection between those who were granted the rights and the people who said the Thanksgiving prayers?
- Why do you think the Jews of London said the Thanksgiving prayers?
Putting it all Together
You have seen examples of Thanksgiving prayers that are said several times a day, on holidays, and when special events occur. Some of the prayers are said privately while others are said in the presence of the community.
- How do you think having a tradition of expressing thanks affects a person?
- How does the tradition of expressing thanks impact the community?
- How do you feel after you have said "Thank you" to someone for a kindness that has been done to you?
- How do you feel after someone thanks you for something that you have done?
- How does it feel when you do something nice for a friend and they don't say "Thank you".
- Do you think that God needs our thanks? If not, why do you think we thank Him?
