Why is gratitude so important? As the midrash below suggests, giving thanks is deeply ingrained in Jewish practice:
(ז) רַבִּי פִּנְחָס וְרַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי מְנַחֵם דְּגַלְיָא, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא כָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת בְּטֵלִין וְקָרְבַּן תּוֹדָה אֵינוֹ בָּטֵל, כָּל הַתְּפִלּוֹת בְּטֵלוֹת, הַהוֹדָאָה אֵינָהּ בְּטֵלָה
Rabbi Pinchas, Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Menachem of the Galilee, "In future times, the observance of the sacrifices will be nullified, with the exception of the Thanksgiving offering which will never be nullified. All of the prayers will be nullified, with the exception of the prayer of gratitude, which will never be nullified.
Even in a redeemed world, when prayers and Temple rituals are no longer necessary, the rituals of gratitude will remain a part of our world.
If you plan to explore the theme of giving thanks with your learning community this Thanksgiving season, Sefaria is full of options:
-
Recognizing all the good in our world is an important starting point for cultivating gratitude. But what does this look like in our daily lives? Check out What Does it Mean to be Grateful?, a Thanksgiving conversation starter, to learn more.
-
Sometimes when our lives are filled with abundance, we forget to be thankful for those who helped along the way. All by Myself is a lesson plan that explores the dangers inherent in a life of plenty.
-
Jewish holidays are marked by prayers to help us get in the mood and reflect on the significance of the occasion. As it turns out, even our weekday liturgy is full of prayers for regularly giving thanks. Take a look at a collection of prayers of thanksgiving in the library, and consider using this sheet as a jumping-off point for study this Thanksgiving season.