Celebrating Thanksgiving

It is well known that Rav Moshe Feinstein was not keen on Jews celebrating Thanksgiving in America.

I hope this doesn’t offend anyone, but growing up, Rav Moshe Feinstein was universally recognized as the Gadol Hador. Yet, it was widely understood that Rav Moshe spoke very little English and couldn’t read or write in it. This meant that when it came to matters involving secular or local issues, he had to rely heavily on the information provided by those around him—and sometimes that information wasn’t entirely accurate. Even as kids in yeshiva, we were aware of this dynamic.

Some of Rav Moshe’s teshuvot in these areas were incredibly well-researched and demonstrated thoughtful consideration, especially when the information provided to him was accurate. Others, however, reflected misunderstandings due to the limitations of the data he received. This was no secret, and many people exploited this reality to dismiss or criticize any teshuva they didn’t agree with—such as his rulings on non-chalav yisrael milk or certain foods without a hechsher. Ironically, those were among his most well-researched teshuvot, as the reasoning and evidence behind them were clear.

One specific teshuva that stood out to me was Rav Moshe’s stance on Thanksgiving. At the time, the consensus was that he lacked some key context about the holiday—its transformation into a largely secular occasion and the fact that it had become a widespread opportunity for Jews to express gratitude to Hashem. I vividly remember how people who otherwise followed Rav Moshe to the letter would shrug off this particular ruling. Growing up in Lakewood, I didn’t fully grasp the nuances, but as I got older, I began to see the bigger picture.

Looking back, I believe that if Rav Moshe had been fully informed, he likely would have celebrated Thanksgiving himself. Pass the cranberry sauce.

I don’t place all the blame on those who surrounded him. Many were survivors of the Holocaust, deeply traumatized, and understandably wary of embracing anything associated with non-Jews. Their experiences shaped their perspectives, making it difficult to see the potential for peaceful coexistence and gratitude toward a country like America. That said, the context in America was—and is—different. Certainly, if you lived in a place like modern-day London, where the streets are filled with pro-terror demonstrators openly calling for the death of Jews, you wouldn’t feel inclined to join in any shared celebrations. But here in America, that’s not the reality.

So, yes, I stand by the belief that if Rav Moshe had received all the information, he would have joined us in expressing thanks.