Having recently celebrated Thanksgiving, something you may not know is that Thanksgiving is a lot more Jewish than you thought. 

Allow me to explain. 

The Pilgrims (or Puritans) came to New England, fleeing persecution as Jews have continuously done throughout our existence. Before setting out for the “New World,” as the Jews had done when they marched towards the “ Promised Land,” the Puritans fled to Holland, which at the time was known for its religious tolerance. For roughly ten years before embarking on their journey, the Puritans spent time living in Holland adjacent to a group of Sephardic Jews who had fled there during the Spanish Inquisition. 

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrating Earth’s bounty. While one cannot say for sure that Thanksgiving was influenced by the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot, there is definitely evidence that suggests it is possible. The first Thanksgiving meal is said to have taken place outdoors, like the Jewish tradition of eating in the Sukkah. 

Secondly, Sukkot, like Thanksgiving, is all about welcoming guests into your home. During the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims welcomed the Wampanoag tribe to dine with them, just like we welcome all to join us in our Sukkah every year, putting up three sides to the temporary structure and leaving the fourth side open to all.

Additionally, I interviewed a couple of people about their Thanksgiving and Sukkot traditions. Rachel Efune, age 16, from the Lonestar region, said, “Both holidays are a time when we thank G-d, saying things we are grateful for, and spending time with family.” 

Angela Engel, age 46, from Oakland, CA, commented, “On both holidays, it is customary to invite people to sit and gather together and to give thanks for the ability to spend time with our community and for the food we eat together.”

In modern times, Sukkot and Thanksgiving have differences but maintain similarities. For example, though few probably eat Thanksgiving dinner outdoors in 2024, both are still festivals that celebrate a bountiful harvest, focusing on gratitude and spending time with loved ones. I know, for me personally, whether during Sukkot or Thanksgiving, I look forward to sharing pumpkin pie!