This should be a no-brainer, right? Well for a significant number of Orthodox Jews, it's not so obvious and that fact speaks volumes to the thinking of many in that community. Interestingly, it is precisely those who think the answer should be 'no' that are more accurate about the historical origins of the holiday, and I actually have great respect for that even if I totally disagree with the conclusion at which they arrive. But what really makes this question interesting, is that how one answers it, is a kind of Rorschach test which reveals how one thinks about Jews living in a largely non-Jewish culture.
The arguments against observing Thanksgiving are all based on Leviticus 18:3, which reads, "You shall not copy the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt, or of the land of Canaan to which I am taking you; nor shall you follow their laws." Some halakhic (Jewish legal) authorities rule that observing Thanksgiving violates this rule while others do not. The issue which divides them is generally whether they see Thanksgiving as religious or not.
Those who embrace Thanksgiving, do so on the basis that it was "always a secular holiday", to which anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of history responds, "are you kidding?!"
To whom were the Pilgrims thankful? The whole story is one of deep faith and providence helping the Pilgrims persevere, build cooperative relationships with the native Indians, and create a new life in a new land. In fact, the idea of a secular Thanksgiving would have horrified those who first observed it.
Thanksgiving was, and remains for many including myself, a deeply if not particularistic, religious holiday. And therein lays its greatness. You don't need to belong to any particular religious group, or even believe in God, to acknowledge the powers greater than yourself which have carried you through the past year and helped you to build your life in positive ways.
Of course, the idea that something can be deeply religious without being unique to the religious group which created it is what so many people miss in their permissive attitude to Thanksgiving. And if the basis of such permission is the willful erasure of the past, then such permission does more harm than good. It tells people that Thanksgiving is okay because it was never "theirs" anyway. Sadly, that approach is diametrically opposed to the narrative which is based upon people being able to share the wisdom and practice of communities not their own.
The real question is why the options are either to ignore the past as a way to build a shared future (the case with those who embrace the holiday) or acknowledge the past and use that acknowledgement to divide us from our neighbors (the case of those who think that Thanksgiving isn't kosher). We have a third, and far healthier, option.
Let us acknowledge the deep religious roots of Thanksgiving, appreciate that many things which begin as religious migrate into the domain of the secular, and celebrate that in no country have more people from more diverse cultures ever gathered to celebrate both that which they share and the beauty of the many things which differentiate them from each other.
Thanksgiving is sacred to America and should be sacred to Jews who are among the primary beneficiaries of all that this nation has to offer. The reason Thanksgiving should be celebrated is not because we lie about its past, but because in no way is America for Jews, what either Egypt of Canaan ever were. In fact, if there could be a promised land outside the land of Israel, this would be it. No America is not perfect, but the story of those who preceded us in coming here for their own religious freedom and opportunity is surely worthy of celebration. The story is theirs and it's ours.
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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 
You have to admit it: Thanksgiving is a uniquely American celebration. And if it is loosely based on our Sukkot observance, so much the better. After all; isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery? But, we need Thanksgiving; we take so much for granted without remembering that sometimes faith is all we have to go on, just like the Plymouth settlers. We don't imitate their faith; we only celebrate our thankfulness for thriving in the face of adversity, somthing all faiths can appreciate.
http://indy.pabn.org/archives/213thank.shtml The Thanksgiving Massacre Is All That Turkey and Stuffing a Celebration of Genocide? By Laura Elliff, Vice President, Native American Student Association http://www.yadvashem.org/ Yad Vashem Its the Uncle-Toms/Aunt-Thomasinas Jews still celebrating The Thanksgiving Day Massacre with a dinner. Why, do we Jews insist on supporting that hateful day against the Indigenous People of America aka Native Americans? How would we like the Indigenous People to celebrate our HOLOCAUST in a similar manner? Hello. Note: For some reason we forgot about the FEAST OF TABERNACLES, which is found in the Scriptures for us to celebrate. You can tell the real Jews like me by celebrating only the Jewish Holidays.
What is the necessity for we Jews to set up so many social barriers concerning the celebration of a holiday giving thanks to God. All people pray to the same God- no matter what name they address Him/Her. Our foolish separateness has caused more harm to ourselves than benefits. No I am not suggesting that we act as pagans or savages devoid of moral fiber. But please - enough foolishness. Enjoy our thanksgiving holiday - and remember the less fortunate amongst us and be charitable.
The American Indians that celebrated Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims were not Christian but called God "The Great Spirit". God is always the spirit of truth and is in every culture. I had a Muslim ask me if Thanksgiving were a Christian holiday. I said "no" only the Pilgrims were Christian, not the Indians. America is truly a blessed land and both the Indians and Pilgrims acknowledged God's omnipotent hand in their blessed harvest. Simplicity is sometimes the most difficult concept for religious people to understand.
Is there anyone out there who might wish to comment on whether (and why) Canadian Jews should/should not celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving (which falls in October, as opposed to the American one in November)? My parents are immigrants from Poland. My sibling and I were born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. They never celebrated Thanksgiving, calling it a Christian holiday. Now that I am married with children, I have still never celebrated Thanksgiving, but have considered it to be more of a secular holiday, as an adult. I have also considered it to be an American holiday, but am told that it is quite proper that Canada have a separate Thanksgiving. I would appreciate some clarification. I wouldn't mind serving turkey, etc. once a year and calling it Thanksgiving, but not if it's akin to my Iranian-Muslim friends' practice of having an Xmas tree and exchanging gifts because they think of Xmas as being a charming, secular, Canadian holiday. Thanks for your input.
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