A Shtikel Vort
  • Parsha
    • Book of Bereishit >
      • Bereishit
      • Noach
      • Lech Lecha
      • Vayeira
      • Chayei Sarah
      • Toldot
      • Vayeitzei
      • Vayishlach
      • Vayeishev
      • Mikeitz
      • Vayigash
      • Vayechi
    • Book of Shemot >
      • Shemot
      • Va'eira
      • Bo
      • Beshalach
      • Yitro
      • Mishpatim
      • Terumah
      • Tetzaveh
      • Ki Tisa
      • Vayakhel
      • Pekudei
    • Book of Vayikra >
      • Vayikra
      • Tzav
      • Shemini
      • Tazria
      • Metzora
      • Acharei
      • Kedoshim
      • Emor
      • Behar
      • Bechukotai
    • Book of Bamidbar >
      • Bamidbar
      • Naso
      • Bechaalotecha
      • Shelach
      • Korach
      • Chukat
      • Balak
      • Pinchas
      • Matot
      • Massei
    • Book of Devarim >
      • Devarim
      • Va'etchanan
      • Eikev
      • Re'eh
      • Shoftim
      • Ki Teitzei
      • Ki Tavo
      • Nitzavim
      • Vayelech
      • Haazinu
      • V'Zot HaBerachah
  • Holidays
    • Rosh Hashana
    • Yom Kippur
    • Sukkot
    • Simchat Torah
    • Chanukah
    • Purim
    • Pesach
    • Shavuot
  • Kids Crafts!
  • Growing Up
  • What If...?
  • From the Kitchen
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

The Purpose of Thank Yous (Parshas Ki Tavo)

9/12/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
When I was growing up, I remember any time I had a birthday party I would hand write and mail out thank you cards to my friends for attending my party.  Slowly but surely times have changed.  People stopped mailing out cards and instead waited until they saw the person and handed it to them.  More years passed and instead of handwritten cards thank you emails were sent out to let people know you appreciated them.  With the cell phone industry booming and unlimited text messages on the rise, many people text a quick thank you with one hand while doing three other things with the other.

On the one hand, the advent of such technology has contributed to the loss of that personal touch that one can sense from reading a hand written card; and the excitement of opening a letter (a feeling that many children today cannot even identify with).  On the other hand, thanking people far and near has become quicker and easier, which means more people are being thanked, albeit in a less formal way. 

This begs the age old question of quality versus quantity.  Which is better?  And another question.  Why thank someone anyway?  If they wanted to give you a gift, a compliment, or a helping hand, didn’t they do it because they wanted to?  So why all the hoopla over gratitude?

The University of Pennsylvania  did a study in 2005 exploring psychological interventions that increase individual happiness. They tested five purported happiness interventions and one plausible control exercise, and  found that three of the interventions lastingly increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms. One of the interventions called the “gratitude visit” had individuals write a thank you to someone that they had never properly thanked and deliver it to them.  The results were astounding.  People who did this exercise not only had an immediate increase in their happiness but it affected their happiness for up to a month.   Furthermore, of all the interventions studied, the "gratitude visit" had the most significant increase in people's happiness. 

It turns out that showing gratitude to someone and thanking them for what they have done, will ultimately make you happier.  In this week’s parsha, Ki Savo, Moshe instructs the Jewish people that when they enter the land of Israel that they are receiving from G-d as an eternal heritage, that they should bring their first ripened fruits to the Beis HaMikdash and declare their gratitude for all that G-d has done for them.   Why does Hashem need us to thank Him?  Is He insecure?  Looking for praise? 

According to Chassidus we know that a Jew must be joyful if he expects to fulfill his mission and utilize his potential to change the world.  This is not an external joy, but an internal joy which we have the power to create and develop.  This is no small feat when we live in such a challenging world.  Perhaps, G-d was giving us a hint as to how we could be more joyful which in turn would allow us greater access to our potential.  By thanking Hashem and showing Him gratitude we are not just making Him happy; we are making ourselves happy.  When we wake up in the morning and begin the day by saying Modeh Ani, thank you Hashem, for giving me life; we are actively injecting joy into our day from the very start.

Yes, it is true, that times have changed and there are many different ways to thank people for all they have done for you; but this is a side point.  The main focus isn’t how you thank someone, but that you thank them to begin with.  Send out those cards, write up an email, text your friend, and Facebook message a family member.  Let them know how much you appreciate all that they have done for you.  After all, it will make you a more joyful person.

A big THANK YOU for reading this article; I really appreciate it.

Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Nuta Yisrael Shurack

1 Comment
Betsy
9/16/2014 05:07:33 pm

Great reminder to be thankful and make sure we pass those Thank yous along

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    A Shtikel Blog

    Thoughts and ideas to inspire and motivate... Feel free to leave a comment; we'd love to hear from you!  Read more of our articles by scrolling through the different sections. Please bare with us while the website is being updated.

    Picture
    The team behind A SHTIKEL VORT

    Never miss an article again. Enter your email address to receive an alert when a new article is posted:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    July 2019
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

© 2014 A Shtikel Vort
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.