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Parshat Tzav
2006
Giving Thanks Where Thanks Are Due
On many mornings, my 2-year-old son wakes me at an ungodly hour to offer some very godly words of thanks. He sings Modeh Ani in his little toddler voice - Thank you, God, for restoring my soul to me in compassion. Upon hearing these words, I quickly join in by giving thanks to the Holy One for granting me another day of health in this world, for the gifts of beautiful miracles like my children, and for this special moment. It is important to offer thanks when we truly feel blessed.
In Parshat Tzav, the explanations concerning the principal types of sacrifice are continued. In modern times, when sacrifice is no longer a requirement or an actual possibility for us, we seek out new ways to fulfill the essence of these tribal rituals and to make them applicable to our lives. The Zevach ha-Shlamim offering for well-being, we are taught, may be offered to God for thanksgiving. When would a person bring such a gift to God? The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Berakhot identifies the situations in which our ancestors would have brought this todah (offering of thanksgiving). These times include when one has safely completed a dangerous journey, recovered from illness, been released from confinement or survived other serious dangers.
Today, no one is running out to mix some matzah with oil and animal flesh to dedicate to God after surviving a car accident, so instead of the sacrificial offering, we have a wonderful tradition observed in congregations all over the world. The one who has survived or avoided misfortune offers the Gomel blessing during the Torah reading. Bentching Gomel can be a very powerful way to affirm faith in God and to express our gratitude for recovery from critical illness or from being spared a danger (including during childbirth).
The todah offering had to be eaten on the same day it was offered, prompting the Biblical commentator Abravanel to suggest that since it must be consumed in a single day, the one who offered the sacrifice would invite more people to share it, thus publicizing the miracle to others. Similarly, the Shulchan Aruch (code of Jewish law) explains that the Gomel blessing should be recited aloud before 10 people (not including the one who is reciting the blessing). Proclaiming one's thanks publicly both publicizes the miracle more widely and allows others to share in the gratitude.
The words of the Gomel blessing help us articulate our sincere appreciation to God and also remind the congregation of God's salvation. "Praised are you, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, who graciously bestows favor upon the undeserving, even as He has bestowed favor on me." The congregation then responds with the affirming words, "May He who has been gracious to you continue to favor you with all that is good."
In the Talmud, the text explains that one "needs" to bring the todah offering rather than using the term "obligated." This is possibly to suggest that the grateful individual makes this sacrifice of thanksgiving to fulfill a psychological need rather than to fulfill a mitzvah (religious requirement). So too, no one is forced to bentch Gomel, but there is a clear emotional and spiritual benefit to the experience.
Most of us feel good when we express our appreciation to others. This might be done by way of a thank-you note following the acceptance of a gift or favor, a phone call to recognize the generosity of friend, or a financial contribution to tzedakah to show our gratitude. We also must make our appreciation to God known, and the Gomel custom is a great way to achieve this.
Many of us use the Shehechiyanu blessing to express our thanks to God and this, too, is a nice custom. However, the Shehechiyanu blessing has become overused and trite in many communities, causing it to lose some of its beauty and meaning. We should only offer the Shehechiyanu blessing when it is mandated and at very special milestones.
We should encourage our friends and relatives to bentch Gomel when they have survived an accident, recovered from serious illness or overcome a potential danger. However, to ensure that the Gomel blessing does not become commonplace like the Shehechiyanu blessing, and that it continues to fulfill a spiritual and psychological need, we should re-evaluate the times it should be said.
Overseas air travel and sea voyages no longer possess the danger they once did. Many of us travel routinely overseas for business and pleasure without ever feeling that our life was in peril. Let us use the Gomel blessing, today's todah offering, sparingly. By not overusing this blessing, I am certain we will garner more spiritual meaning when we bentch Gomel and when we respond to the Gomel blessing of others. Offering those beautiful words of gratefulness before our community we will surely fulfill the words of the Psalmist who wrote, "It is good to give thanks to the Lord" (Psalm 92).
May we be blessed to find comfort and healing in our gifts of thanksgiving to God, and may we feel strengthened by sharing in other's gifts of thanksgiving.
Prepared by Rabbi Jason Miller, associate director and director of religious life, University of Michigan Hillel
Learn More
Additional commentaries and text studies on Parshat Tzav at MyJewishLearning.com.
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