Dateline Jerusalem — Every day is Thanksgiving Day in Israel. We might not celebrate with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, but we say blessings and thank G-d for our very existence. We are surrounded by enemies and fight terrorists within our borders. On a daily basis Israeli senior citizens, women and children are being murdered and maimed by Palestinian terrorists. The world is silent. Despite the terror we are currently encountering, we are thankful the Jewish people have been returned to Israel, the land of our ancestors. Having lived in Israel the past eight years, I am especially thankful to be home where I experience miracles on a daily basis. I can enjoy the freedom of living as a Jew.
The autumn holiday of Sukkot is the Thanksgiving for Jews. It has agricultural themes representing the seven species inherent to Israel: Olives, dates, grapes, figs, pomegranates, wheat and barley. These grains and fruits were important in ancient times because they were the first fruits brought as tithes to the Holy Temple. The American Thanksgiving also is an agriculture- themed holiday, first celebrated in 1621 by Pilgrims and American Indians. It was not until 1789 that George Washington declared a day of thanksgiving and prayer, and not until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Interestingly, the name for turkey in modern Hebrew is “tarnagol hodu.” In Jewish prayer, the Hebrew word “hodu” means “give thanks.” The Hebrew word for “Jew” is “Yehudi,” which means “one who offers thanks.” Luis de Torres, a Jew who traveled to the new world with Christopher Columbus, discovered a large wild bird with a head and body resembling a peacock. De Torres called this bird a “tukki,” Hebrew for parrot, but “tikkuyim” means peacock. Over the years, the word “tukki” morphed into the word “turkey.”
Some American Israelis still celebrate Thanksgiving as they did when living in the States. But trying to find a glatt kosher whole turkey usually means having to special order it from a butcher well in advance of Thanksgiving. Usually, one can find skinless, boneless turkey breasts and wings in Israel. But what is a turkey without crispy delicious turkey skin? When I was living in the States, while my family ate the turkey, stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie, my plate was filled with crispy turkey skin and candied yams. What could be better? In Israel, I do not celebrate turkey day. I am thankful every day.
L’hitraot. Shachar
