OU TORAH Tzav: Increasing Gratitude By Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

There are certain phrases or expressions that many of us find hard to say. “I love you” is one of them. Another such phrase is “thank you”. Although these words are difficult for us to pronounce, they each reflect powerful emotions and, when finally uttered, have an unbelievable impact upon the person to whom they are addressed. It is wonderful to hear that one is loved, and it is also wonderful to learn that another person is grateful and appreciative of what one has done for him or her. In our tradition, gratitude is a primary value. Bachya ibn Pakuda, in his renowned medieval book Duties of the Heart, stresses the centrality of gratitude in the religious experience. For him, the worship of God begins with a sense of gratitude for being alive, for being healthy, for having one’s needs met.