Every spiritual tradition acknowledges that how we begin our day matters. In Judaism, the first words we utter upon opening our eyes are:
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ מֶֽלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם שֶׁהֶחֱזַֽרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ
Modeh ah-nee lifanecha, Melech chai v’kayam, she-hechezarta bee nishma-tee b’chemlah rabbah emunatecha.
Thank you, living and enduring God, for You have graciously returned my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness.
Grammatically, it would be correct to say Ani Modeh — “I thank You.” Yet, the words are in the reverse order, which translates as “Thank You, I.” Our tradition teaches, this is intentional so that the very first word that comes out of our mouths each morning is, thank you.
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik taught that gratitude is the “hallmark of the religious personality.” To give thanks is to recognize that life itself is a gift, and the ability to see that gift is what elevates us. Gratitude in Judaism is a spiritual practice. It is central to our daily prayers, to our Shabbat liturgy, and to the narrative of our people.
To live a life of gratitude is to walk through life with a sense of awe. Gratitude becomes a lens through which we find meaning even in challenges, and it reminds us of our responsibility to share those blessings with others. Giving and receiving gratitude brings us closer to a place of wholeness and holiness.
Rabbi Michael Cohen teaches, “the English word ‘Jew’ comes from the name of Judah, the fourth son of our ancestors, Leah and Jacob. Judah’s name in Hebrew is Yehudah, which means, giving thanks. One of the essential qualities of being Jewish is to live in a state of thanksgiving.” Gratitude is not only what we express but how we live—a life rooted in appreciation, connection, and an awareness of the Divine blessings that surround us.
Research, in the field of psychology, shows that people who actively practice gratitude report fewer symptoms of depression, greater optimism, and stronger relationships. Studies show that repeated acts of gratitude reshape our brains, creating pathways that make gratitude—and the joy it brings—an intrinsic part of who we are.
Living with gratitude begins with small, deliberate steps:
- Begin the day in gratitude by saying, Modeh Ani, I am thankful.
- End each day reflecting on three things for which you are grateful, no matter how small.
- Look for the good in others and acknowledge it. Say “thank you” generously and soulfully.
Gratitude leads us to a life of meaning, one where we are less focused on what we need and more attuned to who we are becoming. On Shabbat, we shift our prayers from supplication to thanksgiving. We recite words of gratitude not only for creation, for all our blessings but for the gift of Shabbat itself. Shabbat reminds us that gratitude is not about acquiring more; it is about realizing the fullness of what already surrounds us. A meaningful life begins with a grateful heart.
As we prepare to welcome the spirit of Shabbat into our lives, may we be guided by this prayer of gratitude by Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Shalomi.
Thank You, God of Eternity, for the great wonder of Your creation, for the earth, the stars, the sun, and the moon, and the beauty of Your universe, with which in Your great kindness You have blessed me.
Thank You for granting me life, in all its richness, for its brilliant moments of joy, which allow me to soar as the birds, and even for its anguish and pain, which somehow seem to precipitate inner growth and change.
For all these things, God, I am grateful.
But thank You, especially, God, in Your abundant love, for having chosen to make me a human being, blessed among all the fruits of Your creation, with a mind to reason and seek truth and justice; with a soul which can feel pain, ecstasy, and compassion, and has the freedom to choose life and goodness over cruelty and destruction; and with a heart which can love and care, and reach out to touch the hearts of my brothers and sisters, as together we walk through the years of our lives. Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Laila Haas
