Some Jewish roots scholars believe the Pilgrims based their Thanksgiving feast on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated outdoors and like Sukkot, the meal was eaten with friends. Native Americans, were invited in the same way that Jews have always welcome friends and family to join them in their sukkahs.
According to the Scholars, the Pilgrims spent a decade living in exile in Holland before emigrating to America. There, they lived among the Sephardic Jews learning the traditions of the Jews while studying Torah. They were Calvinists and were very devout to the Hebrew Scriptures and the feasts of the Lord outlined in the Torah. They depended on the instructions of the Bible as a basis for their customs and related to the ancient Hebrews as they were also pressured by a tyrant government like that of Egypt. The King of England demanded that all must observe the ways of the Church of England. The Puritans refused to compromise their faith. They considered themselves sojourners in the wilderness looking for a place where they could worship their God freely.
When the opportunity of the New World presented itself, the Pilgrims considered themselves the “New Israel” and set out for their “Promise Land”. A massive Exodus of devout Christians founded the New Land on the premise of Holiness fleeing from religious persecution.
The feast was celebrated in the fall as the pumpkin and various gourds became iconic symbols of the special day. The cornucopia, also a Thanksgiving symbol of plenty, is similar to the shape of a shofar, which is blown during Yom Kippur, the holiday that precedes Sukkot.
At Sukkot, it is a customary to recite Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His faithful love endures forever”. In Hebrew word for “give thanks’ is “hodu”. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word for turkey is also “hodu” which no doubt, is directly connected to the holiday as well!
Hodu for the hodu!!! (Give thanks for the turkey)!
The special day is also centered on collective prayers and giving thanks to God for the great land and the plentiful provisions that can only be a blessing from God.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember to “hodu” unto the Lord and eat lots of “hodu”!! God bless you all!!
