The Sacred Art of Giving Thanks

After a near-death experience, time seems to slow down. Every breath feels precious, every moment more vivid. But rather than keeping this heightened awareness to ourselves, the Torah commands survivors to do something unexpected – throw an epic celebration.

Among the many offerings detailed in this week’s Torah portion, there’s one that stands out – the Thanksgiving Offering (Korbon Todah). Those who encounter miraculous deliverance—be it from perilous journeys across seas or deserts, liberation from incarceration, or recovery from life-threatening illnesses—must bring a Korbon Todah. This offering consists of an animal alongside a whopping 40 loaves of bread, split equally between chametz (leavened bread) and matzah (unleavened bread). And here’s the kicker: the full roasted animal and all its breads must be consumed BY THE NEXT MORNING!

This unique offering raises some fascinating questions:

1. Why such an overwhelming quantity of food?
2. Why the rush to eat it all in one night?
3. And what’s the significance of the equal amounts of matzah and chametz?

No other Temple offering has these features. Finally…

4. How do all these features add up to the perfect expression of thanksgiving for a life-saving miracle?

The Divine BBQ Party

To answer the first two questions: if you had to finish enough food for a small village in one night, what would you do? You’d invite everyone you know – friends, family, and maybe even a few strangers! The Thanksgiving Offering is a divine invitation to throw the ultimate barbecue!

Why does the Torah mandate hosting a massive party to express thanks? Because when you almost die, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude and suddenly understand how fragile life really is.

I learned this firsthand while hiking in the Indian Himalayas. A poor calculation sent me hurtling headfirst off a 25-foot cliff. Miraculously, I walked away with nothing but a giant bruise on my backside. When I realized that I had not only survived but came away essentially unscathed, my whole perspective shifted. I didn’t believe in God back then, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that a force from beyond reached out and caught me mid-fall. For the next few days, everything felt different – from spending time with people I loved to just eating breakfast – it all felt more meaningful, more precious.

At the time, I was not aware of the Torah’s prescription for one who experiences such miraculous salvation. But from the Korbon Todah, we clearly see that God wants us to reciprocate the gift of life by sharing our experience with others. God reached out and saved you. Now do your part and reach out to share that miracle with others. Host a massive barbecue, feed your guests, and inspire them with your miraculous story!

The Bread of Freedom and Humility

Now, let’s tackle the matzah-chametz conundrum. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch reveals a profound insight into the Todah’s equal measures of chametz and matzah: When God saves us from danger, we regain our freedom – our ability to live and choose as we please. This independence is symbolized by chametz – the fully risen dough represents our ability to fully stand on our own. But that’s only half the story. We didn’t earn this freedom – God gave it to us. That’s why we bring matzah alongside the chametz – the flat, unleavened bread reminds us Who really lifted us up.

The Todah requires equal amounts of both because they represent two sides of the same miracle: our complete restoration and our recognition of its Source. Together, they reveal the true richness of our independence – our new lease on life becomes more precious precisely because we understand it as a gift from God.1

Using this understanding of chametz and matzah, we can now answer a puzzling line from the Passover Seder. In the Ma Nishtana our children ask, “Why on all other nights do we eat chametz and matzah, but on this night only matzah?” Ever wonder which other nights they’re referring to? When do we eat chametz and matzah together? Most of us just eat bread – chametz!

Rabbi Shaul of Amsterdam offers a fascinating explanation: The questions of Ma Nishtana originate from Temple times, when every child would recognize the Seder’s striking similarity to a Todah celebration. Think about it – a sacrificial meal, family and friends gathered around the table, lots of bread accompanying the feast. And, as the Vilna Gaon points out, the Exodus contained all four experiences that require a Todah:

1. We crossed the sea [to put it mildly!].
2. We traveled through the desert.
3. We were rescued from hazardous slavery.
4. We were released from bondage.

Everything you’d expect at a Todah celebration is there on Seder night. Except for one thing…

Where’s the chametz?

Using Rabbi Hirsch’s explanation for the role of chametz and matzah in the Korbon Todah, I think we can answer the child’s question: On Passover night, we weren’t truly independent. Yes, we were physically free from Egypt, but without purpose or direction except following God – like utterly dependent newborns. That’s why on Passover, we eat only matzah.

When did we gain true independence? Fifty days later at Mount Sinai, when receiving the Torah gave us our mission in the world. On Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, we bring an offering the Ramban also calls a Todah. And what does it contain? Massive loaves of chametz! These loaves represent the completion of our independence. Together with the matzahs of Passover, they form the perfect Korbon Todah.

Sharing Our Blessings

The Thanksgiving Offering reveals a profound truth: gratitude, by its very nature, demands to be shared. While dramatic brushes with mortality certainly command attention, they’re not the only miracles worthy of celebration. Every day brings countless moments that deserve recognition – the “chance” encounter that changes life’s direction, the birth of a child, the friend who reaches out right when we need them most – our lives are filled with these everyday miracles.

While we may not have the Temple today, the Todah’s Offering’s blueprint for thanksgiving remains our guide. Every Shabbat table can become an altar of gratitude, every gathering an opportunity to share stories of divine providence. Your experiences – whether dramatic tales of survival or quiet moments of grace – carry within them sparks of the divine. Don’t let them fade into private memory. Gather your loved ones, share your stories, and recognize together how God’s presence fills every moment of our lives.

When we recognize and share our blessings with others, we transform our entire existence into a constant celebration of the miraculous.

Shabbat Shalom!
Avraham

Share Foundations in Jewish Spirituality

1. The word “Todah” shares its root with “modeh” – to admit or acknowledge. A person bringing a Toda isn’t just saying thank you; they’re acknowledging and admitting that their salvation came from God.

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