Our Voices

In the past, the Thanksgiving holiday was just a convenient blur of food and family. As I've aged, I've had to contend with the holiday's complex history, acknowledging the bias and overlooked Native American perspective. Rather than abandoning the holiday, the preschool, and my own family, focus on gratitude and integrate it with the foundational values of Judaism. This makes the practice of hakarat ha’tov, recognizing and expressing gratitude, even more essential as we hold space for both truth and appreciation.

In Judaism, gratitude is paramount. There’s a Jewish tradition that encourages finding 100 blessings each day. From waking up to trying something new,

Modeh Ani: Every morning begins with this prayer, a moment to express thanks for waking up, before the day's busy schedule takes hold.

Shehecheyanu: This blessing is recited upon experiencing a new, joyful milestone within a year, thanking G-d for granting life, sustaining us, and enabling us to reach this special occasion.

Often for parents of preschoolers, the meaning of gratitude has been radically amplified. They are thankful for small, vital moments: the incredible hugs, the brief luxury of two extra minutes of sleep, a smooth car seat transition, or the moment of empathy towards another child or sibling.

However, like any busy adult, we all can get lost in the relentless, everyday demands and lose sight of these critical, wonderful moments. This is where the concept of the hakarat ha’tov can become an anchor.

Taking a deliberate moment to pause, stop, and reflect on a fleeting event is crucial for building gratitude. Young children are in a constant state of Shehecheyanu as they are always experiencing and doing something new, and they are rightly proud of it! Parents have a powerful opportunity to step out of their busy lives and celebrate these moments by acknowledging the significance of simply reaching them.

If the Shehecheyanu doesn't resonate with you, the universal value of pausing still applies. Create a personalized tradition that allows you and your family to reflect on and celebrate moments of gratitude together.

Many of us practiced a lovely Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and sharing what we are thankful for from the past year. I encourage families to embrace the Jewish rhythm of gratitude by expanding this practice beyond a single holiday.

Let us celebrate the Shehecheyanu moments from your month, week, and day on a regular basis, grounding your family life in routine reflection and appreciation.

Modeh Ani: I offer thanks to You, Adonai, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.

Shehecheyanu: Blessed are You, Adonai, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.

After all the blessings this Thanksgiving brought, may we learn to recognize the gifts that arrive softly and unexpectedly. Let hakarat ha’tov be the lens through which we see our days, transforming ordinary moments into blessings.