THE ORIGINAL
THANKSGIVING FEAST

Our Plymouth forefather’s did not originate the “first” Thanksgiving Feast. Being deeply religious, they looked to the Bible for an appropriate way of celebrating and giving thanks to the Lord. The first Thanksgiving was based in part on the Sukkoth (Feast of the Tabernacle); a Hebrew autumn festival. This ancient feast is still celebrated on the fifteenth through the twenty-second days of the seventh month (Tishri). The Hebrew word sukkah means a makeshift shelter or a hut. Sukkoth commemorates the journey of the Israelites with Moses as they traveled for 40 years in the desert. Every able-bodied male is required to dwell in a temporary booth “sukkah” during this festival. The sukkah must be made of perishable plants grown from the earth. It must be imperfect, because the Israelites were vulnerable and dependent on the Lord during their wanderings in the wilderness. The sukkah structure must have three walls and a roof that is loosely thatched to allow the rain to come in and have a view of the heavens. The meaning behind the sukkah – even though man feels secure in the world he has built for himself, he must never lose sight of the Lord. It is a flamboyant feast which incorporates the “Four Species”. The Lord commanded the people to take these four plants and use them to rejoice before the Lord. The plants are: the Etrog - a citrus fruit native to Israel; Lulav - a palm branch; Arava - two willow branches; and Hadas - three myrtle branches. The six branches of the Lulav, Arava and the Hadas are bound together, collectively called the Lulav, and carried in the right hand. The Etrog is held separately in the left hand. With these plants in each hand, one recites a blessing and waves them in six directions: up, down, north, south, east and west. This symbolizes that God is everywhere. Such was the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrims were vulnerable, dependent on the Lord for sustenance, and yet thankful that the Lord was everywhere - even in the New World! Cooking that turkey doesn’t seem so difficult now, does it?