Giving Thanks

It is hard to believe, but in just a few days, the quintessential American holiday celebrating turkey, cranberry sauce, and all our many blessings will be upon us.

Giving thanks has always been an important part of Judaism, as we express appreciation throughout the day for all sorts of things - we recite blessings before and after meals, blessings expressing thanks for our bodies and health (even for our many orifices and their proper operation!), and blessings of general thanksgiving. Thanksgiving can also be a holiday in which we give thanks for the religious freedoms afforded the Jewish community in the United States, finding a uniquely Jewish way to do so.

Blessings
Add Hebrew blessings to your holiday meal - if you have bread on your table, say HaMotzei, thanking God for bringing bread from the earth, and try to recite Birkat HaMazon after the meal.

Social Action
Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to perform mitzvot, especially those having to do with food and making sure others have enough to eat. Helping those who are less fortunate is a classic way to show our appreciation for our own blessings. As a family, go through your pantry and put aside food to donate to a food pantry or local soup kitchen.

Personal Thanks
One favorite holiday tradition before the start of the holiday meal is to take turns around the table, sharing personal thoughts about "Today I am thankful for..." - everyone at the table, young and old, will be able to take part in compiling a long list of gratitude.

Thanksgiving Seder
A Thanksgiving seder? Most people associate the "s" word with Passover, and a marked few might have heard of the Kabbalistic seder associated with Tu B'shvat, so what could a Thanksgiving Seder possibly look like? One popular blogster, Ima on (and off) the Bima, has created three Passover seders, which attempt to help families shift the focus away from creating the perfect (or close-to-perfect) holiday meal and direct it towards an atmosphere of gratitude. Check out her offerings here.

And if you're still looking for wonderful pareve desserts to round out a fantastically delicious Thanksgiving dinner, check out my new favorite blog - Couldn't Be Parve - where you can find a number of fantastic pumpkin and fall-inspired desserts, including this recipe for Pumpkin Pie. B'teyavon!