Giving Thanks and Admitting

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Tzav (Leviticus 6-8 )

One of the offerings mentioned in this week's Torah portion is the Korban Todah - the Thanksgiving Offering.

Rooted into the genetic makeup of the Jewish people is the ability to thank. This is denoted within the essence of our Hebrew name ‘Yehudim’ which is connected to the word ‘hoda-ah, thanks’.

Rav Hutner zt’l makes a very interesting point. The noun ‘hoda- ah’ can mean both to give thanks and also to admit. This is no coincidence.

In order for a person to give thanks, he needs to first be able to admit that he needed help!

Humans are born with an instinct for independence and therefore often don’t want to admit to needing help. Needing helps means admitting to vulnerability and to not being perfect. We can go so far as to trick ourselves and even deny that we received good!

The first step to gratitude is admitting that we needed the help in the first place. Once we accept this, we can then move on to expressing our sincere thanks to the one who has helped us.

The Medrash tells us that in the future offerings will become nullified; there will be no need to bring them. But there will always be a Thanksgiving Offering because giving thanks will never be nullified.

Be humble, be vulnerable. Be grateful.

Shabbat Shalom!

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