הוֹדָיָה
This is a word that’s not used everyday. We’ve already done an entry on the word grateful, which you’ll find here. The Hebrew word for thanksgiving, as in English, is reserved for special occasions, such as that favorite American holiday itself.
The word is הוֹדָיָה
listen and repeat. It comes from the root ה.ד.ה (h.d.h) meaning acknowledgment and thanks. It’s the same root that produces the word תּוֹדָה
listen and repeat, the Hebrew way of saying thank you.


Thus Israelis call the Thanksgiving holiday, חַג הַהוֹדָיָה
listen and repeat – the holiday of thanksgiving.

And with Thanksgiving falling out on חֲנֻכָּה
listen and repeat in a very rare occurrence, American Jews get to experience an extra dose of gratitude this year.
