Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)
– By Karen Faulkner –
With approximately 110,000 American immigrants now living in Israel, plus half a million visitors from the U.S.A. and Canada each year here are plenty of people who appreciate Thanksgiving in the Land. The Pilgrims based this celebration on Leviticus 23: 34 to 44, the Fall feast of Sukkot. And now, even the Hebrew language has found room for it. “The word for both ‘turkey’ and ‘give thanks’ is the same in Hebrew,” explains Baht Rivka, singer and worship leader. “It’s hodu.”
“My husband is American. This is his favorite holiday, so we can’t not celebrate it,” Baht Rivka emphasizes. “I am Israeli, but I lived in America for years. I also enjoy Thanksgiving because, among other reasons, I like to give thanks to God at every opportunity.”