Mizmor 100
Mizmor 100
Todah! In Praise of Gratitude: “Thanks to G-d, thanks to people, thanks to earth and water”
By Moshe Sokolow
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
The very first sentence we utter upon waking in the morning and opening our eyes is: “I give thanks.” Our entire lives are based on giving thanks—to G-d and to people. Here is but a small sampling of sources that pertain to the obligation to express gratitude.
As soon as we wake from sleep, we must recall the grace that G-d has granted us by restoring our soul, which was entrusted to Him while exhausted and returned fresh and rested so people can serve G-d with all their ability, all day long, because that is our whole purpose. As the verse says: “Newly, daily, your faithfulness increases" (Lamentations 3:23). This means that every day people are created afresh, for which we should wholeheartedly thank G-d. While still in bed, we should say: “I give thanks to you, the living and ever-existing G-d, who has compassionately restored my soul. Your faithfulness is ever-increasing” (Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 1:2).
Rabbi Yehudah said: Anyone who denies [another's] benevolence is as though they deny the principles [of belief] (Kohelet Rabbah 7:1).
Once the principle of gratitude is rejected, the principle of faith in G-d is undermined, because both derive from a common source: One who is unable or unwilling to recognize another human being's graciousness, will be unable or unwilling to recognize that of G-d.
Rabbi Tanhuma said, G-d said to Moses: The water protected you when you were cast into the Nile, and the earth protected you when you slew [and buried] the Egyptian. It is improper for you to strike them! Therefore, they were struck by Aaron (Midrash Tanchuma Vaʼeira 14).
G-d did not want Moses to practice ingratitude—even to inanimate objects—in order to teach us all a lesson in gratitude.
Traditionally (see Targum and Rashi), this psalm is presumed to have accompanied the thanksgiving sacrifice (korban todah) in the Temple.
