Is Thanksgiving a Jewish Holiday?

Written by Behrman House Staff, 24 of November, 2014
Put a Little Jewish Spin on Your Thanksgiving Feast
This Thanksgiving your guests will be thankful for these mini sweet potato knishes and you will be thankful for this FREE recipe from Get Cooking! A Jewish American Cookbook.

Many gather together with friends and family to enjoy turkey and stuffing every Thanksgiving, but have you ever thought of it as a Jewish holiday?

Rabbi Jessica Locketz, writing at ReformJudaism.org, says Thanksgiving can be a Jewish holiday.

"Setting aside the feasting and football, we discover that there is a way to bring our Judaism into our observance of this sacred American holiday." Locketz explains, "We can even use it as a means of teaching our children one of our most important values: thankfulness."

Click here to read the full article.

Ima on the Bima, aka Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, says yes Thanksgiving can be celebrated Jewishly. She even created several downloadable Thanksgiving Day services based on the Passover seder.

You too can bring some Jewish spirit to your Thanksgiving by downloading her prayers and services here.

Get Cooking!

 A Jewish American Family Cookbook

So much more than a Jewish holiday cookbook, Get Cooking! is a full year of celebration of Jewish food and culture.

Jewish Holidays, Jewish Values

 Building Character throughout Year - Student Journal

Guide 4-6 grade students in making connections between their Jewish traditions and their day-to-day lives. 

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