1. The fourth Thursday of November, observed as a legal holiday in the United States to commemorate the feast held at Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people and marked by the giving of thanks to
G-d for harvest and health – Dictionary.com
Once a year Americans devote a day to giving thanks.
In Judaism we say, “You learned a lesson… now make it last forever”. It’s important to devote a day to focus on gratitude, but how do we make sure to never lose sight of what to be truly thankful for?
In Jewish tradition the first words out of a person’s mouth in the morning are “I am thankful” –
“I am thankful that You returned my soul to me…”
– The Siddur, the book of Jewish Prayers
There are daily prayers of thanks for our bodily senses — that our digestive and respiratory functions are in order. Three times daily the prayer book prescribes the affirmation:
“We gratefully thank you G-d for Your miracles that are with us every day and for Your favors in every season evening, morning and afternoon…”
By increasing the awareness of the goodness in our lives in the form of thanks we will increase our awareness of G-d in our lives. By increasing our awareness of the G-d in our lives, and thanking Him we will, in turn, accustom ourselves to thank the people around us for their goodness.
Wishing you that everyday is a day filled with Thanks and Giving.

Rabbi Michael Harshaw/st