Thanksgiving, as in giving thanks, is a very Jewish thing to do. According to tradition, Jews are to give thanks 100 times each day. We are to give thanks before we eat, for having food, and after we eat, for having been able to have food. Each morning the traditional liturgy includes thank-yous for such simple acts as standing up and having the strength to get through the day. One more Jewish link is found in our Scripture: The initial Thanksgiving feast was probably based upon our fall thanksgiving festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles)
Celebrating Thanksgiving, then, is part of affirming the American dream, in which peoples of all races, ethnicities and religions can have enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is what real democracy, a democracy based on checks and balances and protection for minorities, is really about. While such a dream is not completely realized for all Americans, the potential for such a realization does exist.
Easily downloadable, the AJC Thanksgiving Haggadah can add meaning to a meal that all too often focuses either on the
--Posted by Rabbi Susan Grossman
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
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Can't believe none of you mentioned Barbara Cohen's book, Molly's Pilgrim! A wonderful children's book about what it means to be a pilgrim and to be Jewish. Go and read! Happy Thanksgiving.
I apologize for horning in here, but haven't been on Bnet in months (endless hairsplitting of the issues on the other blogs gets old in a hurry). I saw a post on here from my cyber buddy eastcoastlady, (if she still even remembers me :-)) and wanted to give her a big shoutout, and to wish her and everyone on here the happiest of Thanksgivings. :-) :-) We now resume our regular programming ... Thank You,
So we had all the family sitting around the table and my brother's mother-in-law pours a goblet of wine for my brother and says "Say the kiddush." My brother turns to me. "What am I supposed to say?" he asks. "Baruch ata h' elo' melech ha-olam bore p'ri ha-gafen" I answer, then he intones the blessing over drinking wine or grape juice. I guess we got the holiday mixed up with another Jewish one, but things came out OK. --Michelle
I'm pleased that Beliefnet posted an article by my neighbor, Rabbi Susan Grossman, a non-Messianic rabbi. On occasion, I have attended services at her synagogue and enjoyed them. She's an excellent teacher and fine person. It's good to show that non-Messianic rabbis have much to contribute toward blessing others, especially Christians.
I've been studying the Jewish/Hebrew holidays, customs, and alphabet for a while now. Through studying my family's roots, I've discovered several family lines that are tied to Jewish roots. This has spurred a spark of interest to do more studying on Judiasm. Through the last study of the Sept.- Oct. Jewish observances (Sukkot, Repentance Day, & Feast of Tabernacles), I made my own services at home to line up as much as possible to the way the Jewish would do, and at the very same time done. As I did this, I felt a special and sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. Throughout my prayers and thanks to God I found myself in such an awe of Him. Tears streamed down my face in these special services and the feelings felt were undescribable. I felt like Jesus honored my efforts to take time to acknowledge his calendar of time He has placed on earth, instead of ignoring it. I feel that the Jewish calendar is Jesus' calendar, but that Jews have honored it. It is my hope that more Christians recognize the things that are important to the Lord, which includes His timetables. It's my hope one day to be in a community of other Jesus Jews to share these wonderful holidays and times with.