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.