[img]96|left|||no_popup[/img] Dateline Jerusalem — In 1621, Pilgrims and American Indians celebrated the first Thanksgiving in America. But it was not until 1789 that George Washington declared a day of thanksgiving and prayer. It was not until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln declared a national holiday of Thanksgiving to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S. In Canada, Thanksgiving is observed on the second Monday of October as “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed”. In Israel, we are thankful everyday.
In Israel, and for religious Jews throughout the world, in our daily prayers we say “Blessed are You, Hashem, G-d, King, exalted through praises, G-d of thanksgivings…” The Israeli holiday best associated with the harvest festival of Thanksgiving is Sukkot, a seven-day holiday originally observed to give thanks to G-d for the fruit harvest, but it is considered a general thanksgiving for the “bounty of nature.” Like Thanksgivings
elsewhere, it is a time for family to gather together to give thanks for the freedom, liberty and bountiful harvests that G-d has provided for them. But unlike Thanksgivings elsewhere, Israelis do not just get together one or two days a year to be with family to enjoy a festive meal and give thanks. For in Israel, not only do we have a seven-day holiday of Sukkot, but every Friday night and Saturday day, non-religious and religious families gather together for Shabbat meals with family and friends and thank G-d.
By the Skin Of My…
Some Americans in Israel celebrate Thanksgiving as they did when living in the U.S. That means turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. But in Israel, one can find a skinless, boneless turkey breast and wings. A whole turkey, though, usually must be special ordered. What is a turkey without crispy delicious turkey skin? When I lived in the States, I used to love Thanksgiving. While family and friends devoured my roast turkey, I would eat a plateful of turkey skin and just a few pieces of turkey breast. Cranberries and pumpkin pie did nothing for me, but candied yams and mashed potatoes made my day. Some stores in Israel sell American cans of cranberry sauce, but pumpkin pie filling is hard to find. However, real fresh pumpkins can be purchased at fruit and vegetable stores throughout the country.
Thanksgiving is very much part of being Jewish. It is interesting to note that the name for turkey in modern Hebrew is “tarnagol hodu.” In our prayers, “hodu” means “give thanks.” Also interesting is that the Hebrew word for “Jew” is “Yehudi,” which means “one who offers thanks.” Therefore, Thanksgiving is very much part of our daily lives in Israel, whether it be a special holiday, in our daily prayers, or in the very essence of being Jewish. In Israel we are thankful to G-d not only for the harvest and all the wondrous things He has given us, but we are especially for the fact that the Jewish people are back home in the land of our ancestors, a home where we can enjoy freedom, liberty, democracy, and experience so many miracles on a daily basis.
L'hitraot. Shachar.
