Hakarat hatov: A Jewish gratitude practice for Thanksgiving

 As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of the power of the Jewish value of hakarat hatov, looking for the good.  When the seasons change and I miss the warmth of summer, hakarat hatov reminds me to see the beauty in the world through the changing colors of the leaves.  When life feels hard, simple things, like my favorite lavender soap or a minute of sun on my face, bring a smile to my face and help me keep a positive attitude. 

Hakarat hatov, like any gratitude or positive-thinking practice, challenges our hard-wired negativity bias as humans who are conditioned to scan our environment for threats. Jewish sages must have understood the need for a regular practice to build our gratitude muscle, and so hakarat hatov is built into Jewish tradition. Every morning, the Modeh Ani prayer reminds us to be grateful, and prayers of gratitude are included in every holiday.   

As simple as it sounds, daily gratitude practices are powerful. I am amazed at the peace and calm that settle over my children and me when we focus on specific things we are grateful for at the end of the day. The practice even sets the stage for better sleep. As a life coach, I witness how my clients shift perspectives after adopting regular gratitude practices and how they find growth and energy when they look for the good. 

As Thanksgiving approaches, what regular gratitude practices can you lean into?  What are you grateful for today, this week, this month, this year? 

This year, I am grateful for the community I have found at Growing Jewish Families and the larger Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia.  As the new J-Family Ambassador Program Manager, I have been uplifted by the passion, values, and hospitality that overflow from the JCC’s staff and programming.   

Growing Jewish Families cultivates community by connecting families raising young children in a Jewish environment in Northern Virginia. The team of J-Family Ambassadors works to build community among young Jewish families by region by bringing gift bags to new parents, connecting with parents over coffee, creating online communities, and hosting family events focused on joyful Jewish learning and socializing. 

If your family has a child up to age 6, one of our J-Family Ambassadors is eager to welcome your growing family into our Jewish community. Here’s how you can get connected: 

• View our upcoming events 

• Sign up for the Growing Jewish Families Newsletter   

• Connect with your local J-Family Ambassador 

 
Don’t have young kids? You can help families connect to their Jewish heritage and our community with your year-end gift to the Pozez Jewish Community Center. Donate here.