(The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, 1914, by Jennie A. Brownscombe. Wikipedia)
(Moshe Sokolow, Jewish Ideas Daily, November 23, 2011)
(א) הֹד֣וּ לַה' כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ב) יֹ֭אמְרוּ גְּאוּלֵ֣י ה' אֲשֶׁ֥ר גְּ֝אָלָ֗ם מִיַּד־צָֽר׃ (ג) וּֽמֵאֲרָצ֗וֹת קִ֫בְּצָ֥ם מִמִּזְרָ֥ח וּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב מִצָּפ֥וֹן וּמִיָּֽם׃ (ד) תָּע֣וּ בַ֭מִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימ֣וֹן דָּ֑רֶךְ עִ֥יר מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב לֹ֣א מָצָֽאוּ׃ (ה) רְעֵבִ֥ים גַּם־צְמֵאִ֑ים נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בָּהֶ֥ם תִּתְעַטָּֽף׃ (ו) וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יַצִּילֵֽם׃ (ז) וַ֭יַּֽדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֑ה לָ֝לֶ֗כֶת אֶל־עִ֥יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃ (ח) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (ט) כִּי־הִ֭שְׂבִּיעַ נֶ֣פֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָ֑ה וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָה מִלֵּא־טֽוֹב׃ (י) יֹ֭שְׁבֵי חֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת אֲסִירֵ֖י עֳנִ֣י וּבַרְזֶֽל׃ (יא) כִּֽי־הִמְר֥וּ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל וַעֲצַ֖ת עֶלְי֣וֹן נָאָֽצוּ׃ (יב) וַיַּכְנַ֣ע בֶּעָמָ֣ל לִבָּ֑ם כָּ֝שְׁל֗וּ וְאֵ֣ין עֹזֵֽר׃ (יג) וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃ (יד) יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם יְנַתֵּֽק׃ (טו) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (טז) כִּֽי־שִׁ֭בַּר דַּלְת֣וֹת נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵ֖י בַרְזֶ֣ל גִּדֵּֽעַ׃ (יז) אֱ֭וִלִים מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּֽ֝מֵעֲוֺֽנֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יִתְעַנּֽוּ׃ (יח) כָּל־אֹ֭כֶל תְּתַעֵ֣ב נַפְשָׁ֑ם וַ֝יַּגִּ֗יעוּ עַד־שַׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃ (יט) וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃ (כ) יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּ֭בָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵ֑ם וִֽ֝ימַלֵּ֗ט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָֽם׃ (׆) (כא) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (׆) (כב) וְ֭יִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵ֣י תוֹדָ֑ה וִֽיסַפְּר֖וּ מַעֲשָׂ֣יו בְּרִנָּֽה׃ (׆) (כג) יוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּֽים׃ (׆) (כד) הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י ה' וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו בִּמְצוּלָֽה׃ (׆) (כה) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וַֽ֭יַּעֲמֵד ר֣וּחַ סְעָרָ֑ה וַתְּרוֹמֵ֥ם גַּלָּֽיו׃ (׆) (כו) יַעֲל֣וּ שָׁ֭מַיִם יֵרְד֣וּ תְהוֹמ֑וֹת נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בְּרָעָ֥ה תִתְמוֹגָֽג׃ (כז) יָח֣וֹגּוּ וְ֭יָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּ֑וֹר וְכָל־חָ֝כְמָתָ֗ם תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃ (כח) וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וּֽ֝מִמְּצֽוּקֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹצִיאֵֽם׃ (כט) יָקֵ֣ם סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃ (ל) וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כִֽי־יִשְׁתֹּ֑קוּ וַ֝יַּנְחֵ֗ם אֶל־מְח֥וֹז חֶפְצָֽם׃ (לא) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (לב) וִֽ֭ירֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל־עָ֑ם וּבְמוֹשַׁ֖ב זְקֵנִ֣ים יְהַלְלֽוּהוּ׃ (לג) יָשֵׂ֣ם נְהָר֣וֹת לְמִדְבָּ֑ר וּמֹצָ֥אֵי מַ֝֗יִם לְצִמָּאֽוֹן׃ (לד) אֶ֣רֶץ פְּ֭רִי לִמְלֵחָ֑ה מֵ֝רָעַ֗ת יֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ (לה) יָשֵׂ֣ם מִ֭דְבָּר לַֽאֲגַם־מַ֑יִם וְאֶ֥רֶץ צִ֝יָּ֗ה לְמֹצָ֥אֵי מָֽיִם׃ (לו) וַיּ֣וֹשֶׁב שָׁ֣ם רְעֵבִ֑ים וַ֝יְכוֹנְנ֗וּ עִ֣יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃ (לז) וַיִּזְרְע֣וּ שָׂ֭דוֹת וַיִּטְּע֣וּ כְרָמִ֑ים וַ֝יַּעֲשׂ֗וּ פְּרִ֣י תְבֽוּאָה׃ (לח) וַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם לֹ֣א יַמְעִֽיט׃ (לט) וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃ (׆) (מ) שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ בּ֭וּז עַל־נְדִיבִ֑ים וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־דָֽרֶךְ׃ (מא) וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב אֶבְי֣וֹן מֵע֑וֹנִי וַיָּ֥שֶׂם כַּ֝צֹּ֗אן מִשְׁפָּחֽוֹת׃ (מב) יִרְא֣וּ יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְכָל־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃ (מג) מִי־חָכָ֥ם וְיִשְׁמָר־אֵ֑לֶּה וְ֝יִתְבּֽוֹנְנ֗וּ חַֽסְדֵ֥י ה'׃
(1) “Praise the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love is eternal!” (2) Thus let the redeemed of the LORD say, those He redeemed from adversity, (3) whom He gathered in from the lands, from east and west, from the north and from the sea.
(4) Some lost their way in the wilderness, in the wasteland; they found no settled place. (5) Hungry and thirsty, their spirit failed. (6) In their adversity they cried to the LORD, and He rescued them from their troubles. (7) He showed them a direct way to reach a settled place. (8) Let them praise the LORD for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind; ...
(10) Some lived in deepest darkness, bound in cruel irons, ... (13) In their adversity they cried to the LORD, and He rescued them from their troubles. (14) He brought them out of deepest darkness, broke their bonds asunder. (15) Let them praise the LORD for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind, (16) For He shattered gates of bronze, He broke their iron bars.
(17) Crazed because of the way of their transgression, and afflicted because of their iniquities, (18) All food was loathsome to them; they reached the gates of death. (19) In their adversity they cried to the LORD and He saved them from their troubles. (20) He gave an order and healed them; He delivered them from the pits. (21) Let them praise the LORD for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind. (22) Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell His deeds in joyful song.
(23) Others go down to the sea in ships, ply their trade in the mighty waters; (24) they have seen the works of the LORD and His wonders in the deep. (25) By His word He raised a storm wind that made the waves surge. (26) Mounting up to the heaven, plunging down to the depths, disgorging in their misery, (27) they reeled and staggered like a drunken man, all their skill to no avail. (28) In their adversity they cried to the LORD, and He saved them from their troubles. (29) He reduced the storm to a whisper; the waves were stilled. (30) They rejoiced when all was quiet, and He brought them to the port they desired. (31) Let them praise the LORD for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind.
(32) Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, acclaim Him in the assembly of the elders.
(From the Annotations of Henry Ainsworth (1571-1622) in the edition of the Bible in the possession of William Bradford on the Mayflower, published in 1618.)
(ח) אַרְבָּעָה צְרִיכִין לְהוֹדוֹת. חוֹלֶה שֶׁנִּתְרַפֵּא. וְחָבוּשׁ שֶׁיָּצָא מִבֵּית הָאֲסוּרִים. וְיוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם כְּשֶׁעָלוּ. וְהוֹלְכֵי דְּרָכִים כְּשֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לַיִּשּׁוּב. וּצְרִיכִין לְהוֹדוֹת בִּפְנֵי עֲשָׂרָה וּשְׁנַיִם מֵהֶם חֲכָמִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהילים קז לב) ״וִירֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל עָם וּבְמוֹשַׁב זְקֵנִים יְהַלְלוּהוּ״. וְכֵיצַד מוֹדֶה וְכֵיצַד מְבָרֵךְ. עוֹמֵד בֵּינֵיהֶן וּמְבָרֵךְ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַגּוֹמֵל לְחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁגְּמָלַנִי כָּל טוֹב. וְכָל הַשּׁוֹמְעִין אוֹמְרִים שֶׁגְּמָלְךָ טוֹב הוּא יִגְמָלְךָ סֶלָה:
(8) Four categories of individuals are required to offer thanksgiving: A person who had been sick and has recovered, a prisoner who has been released from prison, voyagers when they have landed, and travellers in the desert when they reach settled territory. The thanksgiving is to be offered in the presence of ten persons, of whom two, at least, must be scholars; as it is said "Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the seat of the elders" (Ps. 107:32).
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אַרְבָּעָה צְרִיכִין לְהוֹדוֹת: יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם, הוֹלְכֵי מִדְבָּרוֹת, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה חוֹלֶה וְנִתְרַפֵּא, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים וְיָצָא. יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם מְנָלַן? — דִּכְתִיב: ״יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת וְגוֹ׳ הֵמָּה רָאוּ מַעֲשֵׂי ה׳״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיַּעֲמֵד רוּחַ סְעָרָה יַעֲלוּ שָׁמַיִם יֵרְדוּ תְהוֹמוֹת״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ בַּצַּר לָהֶם וּמִמְּצוּקֹתֵיהֶם יוֹצִיאֵם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יָקֵם סְעָרָה לִדְמָמָה״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כִי יִשְׁתֹּקוּ״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם״. הוֹלְכֵי מִדְבָּרוֹת מְנָלַן? דִּכְתִיב: ״תָּעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימוֹן דָּרֶךְ עִיר מוֹשָׁב לֹא מָצָאוּ … וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ … וַיַּדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה … יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״. מִי שֶׁחָלָה וְנִתְרַפֵּא, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֱוִילִים מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם יִתְעַנּוּ. כׇּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וְגוֹ׳ וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ בַּצַּר לָהֶם וְגוֹ׳ יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וְגוֹ׳ יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״. מִי שֶׁהָיָה חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין מְנָלַן? — דִּכְתִיב: ״יֹשְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וְגוֹ׳ כִּי הִמְרוּ אִמְרֵי אֵל וְגוֹ׳״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיַּכְנַע בֶּעָמָל לִבָּם וְגוֹ׳״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ בַּצַּר לָהֶם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וְגוֹ׳״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״. מַאי מְבָרֵךְ? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: ״בָּרוּךְ גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים״. אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: וְצָרִיךְ לְאוֹדוֹיֵי קַמֵּי עַשְׂרָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וִירוֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל עָם וְגוֹ׳״. מָר זוּטְרָא אָמַר: וּתְרֵין מִינַּיְיהוּ רַבָּנַן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְמוֹשַׁב זְקֵנִים יְהַלְלוּהוּ״. מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב אָשֵׁי: וְאֵימָא כּוּלְּהוּ רַבָּנַן?! — מִי כְּתִיב ״בִּקְהַל זְקֵנִים״? ״בִּקְהַל עָם״ כְּתִיב. וְאֵימָא בֵּי עַשְׂרָה שְׁאָר עַמָּא, וּתְרֵי רַבָּנַן! קַשְׁיָא. רַב יְהוּדָה חֲלַשׁ וְאִתְּפַח. עָל לְגַבֵּיהּ רַב חָנָא בַּגְדָּתָאָה וְרַבָּנַן. אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: ״בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּיַהֲבָךְ נִיהֲלַן וְלָא יַהֲבָךְ לְעַפְרָא״. אֲמַר לְהוּ: פְּטַרְתּוּן יָתִי מִלְּאוֹדוֹיֵי. וְהָא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי בָּעֵי אוֹדוֹיֵי בְּאַפֵּי עַשְׂרָה! — דַּהֲווֹ בֵּי עַשְׂרָה. וְהָא אִיהוּ לָא קָא מוֹדֵה! — לָא צְרִיךְ, דְּעָנֵי בָּתְרַיְיהוּ ״אָמֵן״. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: שְׁלֹשָׁה צְרִיכִין שִׁימּוּר, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן — חוֹלֶה, חָתָן, וְכַלָּה. בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: חוֹלֶה, חַיָּה, חָתָן, וְכַלָּה. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף אָבֵל. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים בַּלַּיְלָה. וְאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים הַמַּאֲרִיךְ בָּהֶן מַאֲרִיכִין יָמָיו וּשְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם. הַמַּאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ, וְהַמַּאֲרִיךְ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, וְהַמַּאֲרִיךְ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא. וְהַמַּאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ מְעַלְּיוּתָא הִיא? וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן:
Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Four must offer thanks to God.
Seafarers, those who walk in the desert, one who was ill and recovered, and one who was incarcerated in prison and went out.
From where do we derive that seafarers are required to thank God?
As it is written: “They who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; they see the works of the Lord” (Psalms 107:23–24).
And it says: “For He commands and raises the stormy wind which lifts up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble” (Psalms 107:25–26).
And it says: “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.”
And it says immediately thereafter: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distress” (Psalms 107:28).
And it says: “He makes the storm calm, so the waves thereof are still” (Psalms 107:29),
and it says: “Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He brings them unto their desired haven” (Psalms 107:30),
and it says: “They are grateful to God for His loving-kindness and His wonders for mankind” (Psalms 107:31).
From where do we derive that those who walk in the desert are required to thank God? The Gemara answers:
As it is written in the same psalm:
“They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city in which to dwell” (Psalms 107:4),
“And then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
And He led them forth by the right way” (Psalms 107:6–7).
After God guides them on the right way, it is said: “They are grateful to God for His goodness” (Psalms 107:8).
That one who was ill and recovered must offer thanks is derived, as it is written:
“Crazed, because of the way of their transgression and afflicted because of their iniquities, Their soul abhors all manner of food and they draw near unto the gates of death” (Psalms 107:17–18),
and: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saves them from their distress” (Psalms 107:19),
and then: “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalms 107:20).
After they are healed: “They are grateful to God for His goodness” (Psalms 107:21).
From where do we derive that one who was incarcerated in prison must offer thanks?
As it is written: “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron.
Because they rebelled against the words of God and scorned the counsel of the most High” (Psalms 107:10–11).
And it says: “Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help” (Psalms 107:12),
and it says: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses” (Psalms 107:13),
and it says: “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and broke their shackles” (Psalms 107:14).
And after God takes them out from that darkness and shadow of death, it says: “They are grateful to God for His goodness.”
What blessing does he recite? Rav Yehuda said: Blessed is…Who bestows acts of loving-kindness. Abaye said: And he must offer thanks before ten people, as it is written in the same chapter: “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (Psalms 107:32), and "congregation" indicates a group of at least ten. Mar Zutra said: Two of them must be Sages, as it is stated there: “And praise Him in the assembly of elders.”