The Importance of Personal Praise and Thanksgiving

When we say על 'המחי, we don’t add a line for Chanukah (as we do on Shabbos, yom tov, etc.) This is because praise must not be a be a one-liner. Praise requires elaboration.

When someone did a favor to Reb Aharon of Belz zt’l, he would thank him personally. His gabbaim asked, “Why do you take the effort to thank people yourself? For more important matters, you send your gabbaim. Why can't you send us to thank those who helped you?”

He replied, “When the chazan says מודים, the congregation says along modim with him. This is because when it comes to thanking, one must do so himself. It isn't enough to send a shaliach."