There is an important characteristic in Judaism called hakaras ha’tov, being grateful. Every Yid must develop an awareness and a mindset that recognizes all the good that one receives and appropriately thank the Giver/giver. One of the ways in which we demonstrate our thanks to Hashem is by reciting Psalm 100 – Mizmor L’Sodah – in our weekday morning prayer service.

Psalm 100 – A psalm of thanksgiving – is a song to be sung upon the sacrifices of the “Todah” (thanksgiving) offering. The Sages explain that a person would bring a Todah offering upon emerging from one of four life-threatening situations: imprisonment, grave illness, a sea voyage, or desert travel. Psalm 100, which accompanied the Todah offering, is a tribute to the Todah, the thanksgiving offering.

Psalm 100 famously declares, “Ivdu es Hashem b’simchah, bo’u l’fanav bir’nanah – Serve G-d with happiness and joy throughout your life, enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courtyards with praise!” This statement imbues us to perform Hashem’s commandments in a state of happiness. The Radak and the S’forno explain that one should express joy while serving Hashem to show that it is not a burden to do Hashem’s work. The importance of simchah is expressed by a verse in the Tochachah (rebuke) that describes the terrible calamities that will befall the Jewish people if they fail to heed the word of Hashem. In Sefer D’varim 28:47, it explains that terrible curses of Hashem befall klal Yisrael “...because you did not serve God with happiness and a full heart…”

Psalm 100 – a Psalm of Thanksgiving – is a directive to serve Hashem with joy.

If a person serves Hashem and abides his mitzvos without happiness, the person may begin to act by rote and his prayers will lack meaning. The person may also begin to view the mitzvos as burdens and believe he is doing Hashem a favor by performing them. In order to serve Hashem with happiness, every Yid needs to develop an awareness and acknowledge Hashem’s daily miracles and kindness. When we begin to recognize that all the good comes from Hashem, then we can begin to translate that happiness into a daily expression of gratitude. Rabbi Avigdor Miller teaches us that “You should make a career of counting your blessings; it should be a career!” If we spend each day thinking of just ten things that we are grateful for, we will be able to serve Hashem with more happiness. Happiness is living with gratitude!

 

List of People Who Need a R’fuah Sh’leimah (a complete recovery)

Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.

Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida

Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel

Shimshon Shimon ben Mazal

Aharon Mordechai ben Sharon

Yaakov Yisrael Pinchas ben Tovah

Yisachar Dov ben Chayah Brachah

Tinok ben Chanah

Azriel ShemTov ben Brachah Esther

Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel

Ronny Tzalach ben Simchah

Shmuel Aryeh ben Sarah Rachel

Moshe ben Devorah

Yehoshua ben Miriam

Yosef ben Leah

Nisan ben Yael

Efrayim Gavriel ben Esther

Chaim Yehudah HaLevi ben Sarah

Refael Meir HaLevi ben Esther

Mordechai ben Evelyn

David Chaim ben Rivkah

Moshe Leib ben Chanah Breindel

Eynav ben Tziporah

Yair ben Sarah

Moshe ben Zlata

Yishai Shimon ben Sigal

Shmuel ben Nazima

Yaakov Yisrael Pinchas ben Tovah

Nissim ben Miriam

Levi ben Malkah

Yigal ben Nina

Arthur Avraham ben Bella Berta

Ezra Refael ben Taoos Miriam

Evon bas Sally

Luna bas Rachel

Malkah bas Miriam

Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas

Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel

Esther Hadassah bas Devorah

Ronit bas Rivkah

Mahnaz bas Nosrat

Sylia bas Rachel

Karen bas Rachel

Shoshanah Shurah bas Zin

Sonia bas Raya Rachel

Tinok bas Chanah Moriyah

Brachah Chanah bas Sarah

Devorah bas Esther

Batya bas Moonavar

Sarah bas Alizah

Chavah bas Bayla

Bella Berta bas Raya Rachel

Taliah Tanya bas Nina Nekadam

Raya Rachel bas Esther

Alizah Sima bas Sheina Brachah

Rivkah bas Sarah

Rachel bas Yaffah

Mehrnaz bas Malkah Molouk

Gittel Feige bas Miriam Sarah

Sally Ronit bas Taoos Miriam

To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.