What it is about
Thanksgiving has been a cherished holiday for American Jews, celebrating their freedom to practice religion and acknowledging their secure and safe life in the United States.
Historical Context
In 1621, the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated the first Thanksgiving in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, marked by food sharing, friendship, and joy. Many decades later, President George Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as an official Thanksgiving Day, encouraging citizens to offer gratitude for independence. Since then, Thanksgiving has beckoned American Jews to honor the shared values and freedoms found in the United States.
Significance for American Jews
Thanksgiving echoes a powerful ethos for American Jews: an acknowledgment of religious freedom imbued with responsibilities. For Gershom Mendes Seixas, a pioneering American-born New York religious leader, celebrating Thanksgiving called upon Jews to self-reflect, let go of prejudices, and pursue neighborly harmony. It was more than mere appreciation; it reflected a commitment to living religious values freely in a new nation.
Why It Matters
For American Jews, celebrating Thanksgiving strengthens their understanding and expression of gratitude toward the United States, a nation offering unique protection of their religious rights and allowing for a secure living environment. Across generations, they have thrived under these liberties, which are essential components distinguishing American freedom.
Through historical events, including celebrations during President Abraham Lincoln’s Civil War proclamation, the Jewish community showcased their rich tradition and solidarity, marked by crossing boundaries of gratitude and patriotism.
Thanksgiving Through the Years
Since the late 19th century, Thanksgiving has provided a platform for American Jews to voice their gratefulness and pride for a nation standing solidified in principles of equality and autonomy for all religious beliefs. Whether in places like California, with its foundational gold mined through perseverance, or elsewhere—all American Jews come together in this tradition each year, expressing not just shared experiences but also voicing concerns for global well-being and their kinds in lands without such freedoms.
As a consistent, evocative reminder of religious freedom and aspirations for collective peace, Thanksgiving forms a long-cherished narrative for American Jews, continuing to solidify their covenantal bond with the United States and the plaque of pledging gratitude and social responsibility.
This story was first published on jpost.com.