Gratitude in a Loud Voice

The Way of Emunah | August 23, 2026

וְעָנִיתָ וְאָמַרְתָ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֲרַמִי אֹבֵד אָבִי וַיִּרֶד מִצְרַיְמָה וגו' (כו, ה

And you shall call out and say before Hashem, your G-d, “An Arami pursued my father, and he went down to Egypt."

Rashi says that “v'anisa v'amarta” means to raise one's voice. The Bais Yisroel zy"a asks that Rashi previously said (ibid:3) that "v'amarta” means to not be ungrateful.

There are many people who cry out to Hashem in a loud voice when they want something from Him, but when they praise and thank Him for what they have, they do so in a quiet voice. From the Parshah of bikkurim, we are meant to learn that one should also raise his voice when thanking Hashem for everything He has given. This is a sign of our gratitude, and it should be done "with the gantze k'nock!"

He explains that both are true.

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