Thanksgiving is a time for Americans to appreciate their country and spend time with friends and family. However, Jews are already expected to “give thanks” every week at Shabbos, as this is a time to express gratitude and relax with loved ones.
So does this fact make the actual day of Thanksgiving less special for Jews? In this feature, I will analyze the different ways that Jews, both orthodox and conservative, celebrate our national holiday.
First, I asked my cousin Ari, a Modern Orthodox Jew, on his attitude toward the holiday. “Thanksgiving is just another day for me, to be honest,” he said. “I am very thankful to be living in a country like America because it has done so many great things to the Jewish people, but Thanksgiving is just another Thursday.”
However, this has not always been the case for Ari. He said that, as a child, he celebrated Thanksgiving in a very traditional manner. “I have many siblings and we used to have a massive meal with all kind of food and dishes.” He also stated that he would enjoy watching football with his father.
I was curious to know why his attitude had changed. He responded that because he is fortunate to live near his friends and family, there’s nothing special about a holiday that calls them all together.
However, he is still “extremely happy to be living in a beautiful country like America” and he plans on watching Thanksgiving Day football some day in the future when he has kids.
When I asked Ari if he feels his orthodoxy prevents him from celebrating Thanksgiving, he replied, “Not really. I am comfortable celebrating this secular holiday, but it no longer means much to me, as nothing really changes.”
To gain a different perspective, I interviewed Rabbi David Einhorn on his Thanksgiving Day practices. As a child, Rabbi Einhorn thought Thanksgiving was really special because he celebrated the holiday at his grandmother’s house, which “meant so much” to him. Nowadays, however, the holiday simply means nothing more to him than having a day off from school to get together with friends and family.
Rabbi Einhorn notes that his status as a religious Jew restricts him from participating in Thanksgiving: “I believe that Jewish people cannot add new holidays to the calendar.” Rather, he thinks that Jews should stick to celebrating the ones mentioned in our tradition or the Torah, without any added secular holidays.
Next, I interviewed my friend Jake from another school, who is not religious. Unlike my cousin Ari, Jake says that Thanksgiving is “one of [his] favorite days of the year.” He mentioned the “amazing food” and the opportunity “to catch up with friends and relatives” as the best part of the day. Playing and watching football also help to make Thanksgiving an awesome holiday for Jake.
When discussing his Thanksgiving routine, Jake says that he usually watches the parade with his siblings before hosting a large feast. “Usually, around twenty to thirty family members come!” he exclaimed. Following the meal, Jake and his family compete in a thrilling football tournament that lasts well into the night.
Jake ended our interview by pointing out the importance of both recognizing and celebrating Thanksgiving as a national holiday: “We are lucky to live in America, where we are free to do whatever we want. It is a blessing.”
It is interesting to compare these differing Jewish perspectives on Thanksgiving. My orthodox cousin downplays the idea of celebrating Thanksgiving because it no longer differs from everyday life. To a further extent, Rabbi Einhorn ignores Thanksgiving because he believes that Judaism requires him to.
On the other hand, my non-religious friend welcomes Thanksgiving with open arms. Regardless of whether we celebrate the day or not, everyone can agree on the importance of expressing gratitude to our home country, America, every once in a while.