As millions of Americans gather for Thanksgiving dinner, Jewish religious authorities continue to navigate the delicate balance between ancient religious law and modern American culture, revealing how different Jewish communities approach this quintessentially American holiday.
The core religious question centers on the biblical prohibition known as "b'chukoseihem" from Vayikra 18:3, which forbids Jews from copying the practices of other nations. While this clearly prohibits celebrating holidays with explicit religious origins like Christmas or Halloween, Thanksgiving's status remains a subject of nuanced rabbinic debate.
Leading Orthodox authority Rabbi Moshe Feinstein issued multiple rulings declaring Thanksgiving secular rather than religious. The influential Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik concurred, reportedly adjusting his class schedule to participate in family Thanksgiving meals.
However, not all religious authorities agree. Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner took a stricter view, ruling that any annual holiday fixed to the Gregorian calendar is inherently non-Jewish and therefore prohibited.
Other scholars have proposed compromise positions: Rabbi Yehuda Herzl Henkin suggested skipping the celebration occasionally to demonstrate it isn't viewed as a religious duty, while Rabbi Dovid Cohen permitted family gatherings with turkey but advised against treating the day as an obligation.
The ultra-Orthodox community generally takes a more cautious approach, with many not celebrating Thanksgiving.
My Jewish Learning explains that "The Agudath Israel of America, the leading haredi umbrella organization, routinely schedules its annual convention to begin on Thanksgiving day — perhaps because its members are less likely to have to work that day. And many Orthodox institutions and schools operate as usual on Thanksgiving."
However, even within these communities, attitudes vary, with some families participating in Thanksgiving meals while carefully avoiding any implication of religious significance.
For most American Jews, Thanksgiving has become thoroughly integrated into their calendar alongside Passover, Hanukkah, and Independence Day. Many Reform and Conservative congregations have embraced the holiday, creating Jewish-themed Thanksgiving resources and drawing parallels between American and Jewish values of gratitude.
This ongoing discussion reflects broader questions facing American Judaism: How can ancient religious traditions adapt to modern secular culture? Where should lines be drawn between participation in American life and maintenance of religious distinctiveness?
PS: If you are celebrating today, enjoy your turkey and cranberry cobbler.
Jew in the City contributed to this article.