The Torah describes the harvest festival of Sukkot as a time to give thanks to God for the bounty and beauty of the world. Our Jewish holiday inspired the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in 1623 to shape new rituals to express their timeless gratitude. As Jews, as Americans, as human beings, we too give thanks at this season, for the blessings of our lives.
As we give thanks and demonstrate our freedoms, we encourage you to thoughtfully consider and discuss these questions.
- For what are you personally thankful this year?
- What do you wish to contribute to our city, state, and country? Why?
- What do we believe are the highest ideals and best values of the United States?
- Have we, as a city or a nation, lived up to those ideals and values in the past year? What is your role in Tikkun Olam, in the repair of our world?
Below, please find prayers and readings that we hope will enrich your Thanksgiving celebration.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rabbi Asher Knight, Cantor Thomas, and Rabbi Klass
Hinei Mah Tov
הִנֵה מַה טוֹב וּמַה נַעִים
שֶׁבת אַחִם גַּם יָחַד
Henay Mah Tov Oo’mah Nah-yeem,
shevet achim gam yachad.
How good and how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together!
Shehecheyanu
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam, she-he-chay-yanu, v’kee-ya-mahnu, v’hegee-yanu lazman ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and allowed us to reach this joyous occasion.
A Prayer for the Thanksgiving Feast
From Talking to God by Rabbi Naomi Levy
For the laughter of children,
For my own life breath,
For the abundance of food on this table,
For the ones who prepared this sumptuous feast,
For the roof over our heads,
The clothes on our backs,
For our health,
And our wealth of blessings,
For this opportunity to celebrate with family and friends,
For the freedom to pray these words
Without fear,
In any language
In any faith,
In this great country,
Whose landscape is as vast and beautiful as her inhabitants.
Thank You, God, for giving us all these. Amen
Prayer for our Children
(For a Boy) יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַֽיִם וְכִמְנַשֶׁה.
Y’-sim’-chah E-lo-him k’-Ef-ra-yim v’-chi-M’na-sheh.
May God inspire you to live in the tradition of Ephraim and Manasseh.
(For a Girl) יְשִׂמֵךְ אֱלֹהִים כְּשָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה.
Y’-si-meich E-lo-him k’-Sa-rah Riv-kah Ra-cheil v’-Lei-ah.
May God inspire you to live in the tradition of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ.
יָאֵר יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ.
יִשָׂא יְיָ פָּנָיו אֵלֶֽיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.
Y’-va-re-ch’-chah A-do-nai v’-yish-m’-re-cha.
Ya-eir A-do-nai pa-nav ei-le-cha vi-chu-ne-ka.
Yi-sah A-do-nai pa-nav ei-le-cha v’-ya-seim l’-chah sha-lom.
May God bless you and guard you.
May the light of God shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May the presence of God be with you and give you peace.
Forever Young
by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
From The Declaration of Independence
written by Thomas Jefferson and signed on July 4, 1776
Reader: We are in a truly unique and wonderful country, a land in which our very foundational documents speak of liberty and freedom, equality and truth.
ALL: When in the Course of human events,
Reader: it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another
Reader: and to assume among the powers of the earth,
Reader: the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,
Reader: a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
ALL: We hold these truths to be self-evident
Reader: that all men are created equal
Reader: that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights
Reader: that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Reader: That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…
Reader: it is the Right of the People to… institute new Government…
Reader: And for the support of this Declaration
Reader: with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence
ALL: we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The New Colossus
by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame;
With conquering limbs astride from land to land
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to be free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Psalm 100: A Psalm of Thanksgiving
Sing unto God in thanksgiving
Acclaim Adonai with joy, all the earth.
Serve God with gladness;
Come before the
Divine Presence with singing.
Know that Adonai is Adonai;
God made us, and we are God’s;
We are God’s people,
the flock that God shepherds.
Enter into the gates of Adonai
with thanksgiving,
and into God’s courts with praise;
Give thanks unto Adonai,
and bless the holy name.
For Adonai our God is good;
God’s lovingkindness endures forever;
God’s faithfulness is unto all generations.
Prayer for Peace
עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.
O-seh sha-lom bim-ro-mav, Hu ya-a-seh sha-lom a-lei-nu v’-al kol Yis-ra-eil, v’-im-ru: A-mein.
May God, who causes wholeness to exist throughout creation, also spread that peacefulness over us and upon all Israel and the entire world, and let us say, “Amen.”
Blessings for Wine and Food
Kiddush
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן.
Ba-ruch a-ta Adonai, Eh-lo-hei-nu meh-lech ha-o-lam, Bo-rei pe-ri ha-ga-fen
Blessed are you Eternal our God ruler of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.
For Bread
בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ.
Ba-rukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam Ha-Motzi le-chem min ha-aretz
Blessed are you Eternal our God ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
For all kinds of Foods (cakes and pies!):
בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת.
Ba-rukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam, Borei Me-nay me-zo-not
Blessed are you Eternal our God ruler of the Universe, who brings for various kinds of foods.
For Fruits that Grow on Trees:
בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֵץ.
Ba-rukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam, Borei Pe-ri ha-aytz
Blessed are you Eternal our God ruler of the Universe, who brings forth fruit of the trees.
For the Fruit that Comes from the Earth:
בָּרוּך אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה.
Ba-rukh Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh Ha-Olam, Borei Pe-ri ha-adamah
Blessed are you Eternal our God ruler of the Universe, who brings forth fruit from the earth.
Brief Birkat Hamazon – Grace After Meals
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַזָּן אֶת הַכֹּל:
Baruch atah Adonai, hazan et hakol
We praise You, Eternal God, who sustains all.
