Thanksgiving Is a Very Jewish Holiday
Monday November 13, 2006
After Passover and Hanukkah, Thanksgiving is perhaps the holiday most observed by American Jews. It makes sense for a number of reasons, and not only because we Jews can't pass up an excuse for a good meal. Thanksgiving, as...
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About Virtual Talmud
This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
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 You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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As a high- caste Hindu Brahmin from India I find the act of having a Thanks-giving dinner a perfect way to thank God for his bounty. All Brahmins say a small thank you prayer to God and bless the house and its members before each meal with the sacred thread in their hands . I am happy that the Jewish people carry out this ritual like us.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays.
Ditto : )
As a "Born-again fundamentalist Christian," I thank God for every Jewish person on this earth. Yes indeed, Thanksgiving, as a holiday, is VERY Jewish in origination. Of course, everything "Christian" is. Every Christian on earth should take much time on Thanksgiving Day to envelope their minds around the people so loved by God. There is nothing more beautiful than Thanksgiving. It has ALWAYS been my personal high holy day. Why can't every day be like it? From Adam to Moses, to the Christians seeking their own home in a distant land . . . thanking God for life itself. Indeed Thanksgiving is like a Jewish "festival." As the world turns this way or that way, the origin of life and thankfulness is well-represented in the Jewish community. Which includes The One Person, I'm most thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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.