Hakarat HaTov

Hakarat HaTov or (Ashkenazi) Hakaras HaTov, is the Hebrew term for gratitude. It literally means "recognizing the good."[1][2]

Etymology

The Hebrew word lehakir means to recognize; The word Tov means good or goodness.[3]

History

The word Jew is derived from the name given to Judah (son of Jacob), son of Jacob and Leah. The Hebrew for Judah is Yehudah, from the wording "I will praise" (odeh, Gen. 29:35). The root for this wording means "to thank."[4] and refers to "I am grateful."

Hakaras Hatov is an attitude and a required[3] part of the Jewish way of life [5][3][6]:

  • Your children are exhausting, but you have children.
  • You misplaced your car keys, but you do own a car.[7]

It is internal, whereas by contrast HoDaa, giving thanks, is an action.[8]

Rabbi Yissocher Frand explains the sequence: we must first admit we needed someone before we can thank them.[9] The difference is that HaKaras HaTov is about everyone who helps us, whether we needed it or not and Hoda'ah is thanking someone for something we could not have done on our own.

We're commanded not to despise the Egyptian "for you were a stranger in his land" (Deut. 23:8); we received hospitality[10] and recognize this. Although we note that when "A new king arose over Egypt who did not know of Yoseph" (Shmot 1:8), meaning "he did not WANT to know who he was! He lacked hakarat hatov for all that Yoseph had done for the Egyptian people,"[11] we have to do our part in giving recognition. "We owe a debt of gratitude even to our oppressors for the small kindness they may have done for us,"[12], even though the Egyptians "did not know of Yoseph."

Thanking publicly

There is a publicly said prayer, called Birkhat HaGomel, for giving thanks for surviving an illness or danger.[13] said before a Torah scroll. Sometimes we publicly thank the Source of why we're thankful with a Seudas Hodaa,[14] a public meal of thanksgiving.

At the Passover meal called the Passover Seder, we sing the song Dayenu, the theme of which is that even if we didn't get it all, we would have been thankful for even ...[15][16]

See also

References
  1. "Gratitude | Pathways". www.jewishpathways.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  2. "HaKaras HaTov: Recognizing the Good – The Shmuz". theshmuz.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  3. "Jewish Words - Hakarat HaTov". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  4. Exell, Joseph Samuel (1892). Homiletical Commentary on the Book of Genesis. USA: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 583.
  5. "Ohr Naava: Hakaras Hatov Initiative". www.ohrnaava.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  6. "Hakaras HaTov". www.chinuch.org.
  7. There's also what some call "there's bad, and there's worse:""Hakarat Hatov - Hamodia". Hamodia. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  8. "Hakaras hatov vs. hoda'a". judaism.stackexchange.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  9. "Taking Out the Garbage • Torah.org". Torah.org. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  10. "Jewish Words - Mayim-achronim". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  11. "YUTorah Online - Hakarat Hatov (HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl)". www.yutorah.org.
  12. https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/hakarat-hatov-1.8082
  13. "Laws of the Blessing of Thanksgiving".
  14. sometimes called Seudat HoDaYa "At the bottom of the pool".
  15. "The deeper meaning of Dayenu". The Jewish Press.
  16. "The Passover Haggadah: A Guide to the Seder" (PDF). JewishFederation.org.
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