Do Jews celebrate Thanksgiving?

Gratitude is Jewish

The first words a Jew says on waking are Modeh Ani – “I thank You”. Jews say blessings before and after eating, and the Torah commands: “When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10). The idea of a national day of thanks fits naturally with Jewish values.

The halachic question

Jewish law forbids adopting the religious rites of other faiths. Thanksgiving, however, is a national holiday with no religious rite. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the leading American authority of the twentieth century, wrote in several responsa (Igrot Moshe, Even HaEzer 2:13; Yoreh De’ah 4:11) that it is not a religious festival and that eating turkey on it is permitted, though one should not consider it an obligation. Some rabbis were more cautious, so practice varies.

In practice

Many observant families have a kosher Thanksgiving dinner; synagogues may hold a special service of thanks. The meal can include the usual blessings – and grace after meals is itself a Jewish thanksgiving three times a day.

When Thanksgiving meets Hanukkah

Because the Jewish calendar moves against the civil one, Hanukkah occasionally begins around Thanksgiving – famously in 2013 (“Thanksgivukkah”), when the first candle was lit on the evening before. Both days are about thanks: the Al HaNissim prayer of Hanukkah opens with “for the miracles… and for the wars” and closes with thanking God’s great name.

Kosher turkey

Turkey is a kosher bird by tradition and is sold with supervision. A kosher Thanksgiving meal avoids butter and cream with the turkey – non-dairy margarine or olive oil are used in the stuffing and the pies.