Dear Friends,
I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. As I was learning this week’s Torah portion, I couldn’t help but notice how beautifully it resonates with the theme of giving thanks.
This week we read about the birth of the Twelve Tribes. With each child, the mother explains the meaning behind the name she chooses. When Leah gives birth to her fourth son, she says, “This time I will thank (odeh) G-d,” and she therefore names him Yehudah—Judah.
But this raises a question:
Why express thanks specifically at the fourth child? Weren’t the first three children (Reuben, Shimon, Levi) also miracles and blessings?
Rashi (the foremost Torah commentator) explains that Leah knew prophetically that Yaakov would father twelve sons from four wives. She therefore expected to have three children. But when a fourth was born—something beyond her expectations—she felt a deep, overwhelming gratitude and named him Yehudah. It was a thank-you that came from feeling she had received more than her share. This was a total gift from G-d. I don't feel entitled to this blessing.
This connects to a larger idea you might find interesting:
Why are we called Jews—Yehudim—a name derived from this tribe Judah? What happened to the name Israelites for all 12 Tribes? Isn't Judah limiting representation?
Historically, after the destruction of the First Temple and the exile that followed, the majority of the Jewish people who remained identifiable descended from—or were aligned with—the Tribe of Judah (see that time period discussed in the Story of Esther Chapter 2-3, where the term Yehudi first appears in this broader sense). Over time, the name “Jew” became the term for all the Children of Israel.
But the deeper reason is spiritual:
The mind-mission of a Jew—of a Yehudi—is to live in a constant state of gratitude. Judah’s name captures the essence of our role in exile: to recognize G-d’s gifts, to thank Him, and to transform even challenging circumstances with humility and appreciation.
So what does this teach us about gratitude today—on Thanksgiving weekend and every day?
True gratitude isn’t just saying “thanks” or even " I am so thankful for _____)."
It’s pausing, reflecting, and realizing how much of what we have is not owed to us. It’s noticing blessings that go beyond our expectations—health, family, community, opportunities, even the small daily kindnesses that we often overlook.
When we take the time to truly feel that gratitude, it lifts us. It brings joy. It creates a deeper connection—with people and with G-d. It’s one of the simplest and most powerful tools for living a happier and healthier life.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom—and a weekend filled with genuine gratitude,
Rabbi Yitzi Hein