| Refuah Shleimah to Esther Shifra bas Rivka
When Leah Imeinu gave birth to her fourth son, the Torah tells us, “She named him Yehudah.” The Talmud teaches that Leah was the first person in history to offer explicit thanks to HaShem. But this seems surprising—surely our holy Patriarchs and Matriarchs expressed gratitude to HaShem before her. What, then, was unique about Leah’s expression of thanks?
Leah understood that Yaacov would father twelve sons, and since he had four wives, she initially assumed that each wife was “entitled” to three children. However, when her fourth son was born, she experienced a spiritual awakening. She realized that no one is entitled to anything—not even to the blessings that seem “expected” or “deserved.” Every child is a pure gift from HaShem, lovingly bestowed according to His will alone.
This realization filled her with such profound gratitude that she named her son Yehudah, from the word hoda’ah—thankfulness. Each time she called his name, she would remind herself that every blessing in her life was a divine gift, not something owed to her. Leah thus became the first person to express gratitude not for an extraordinary miracle, but for the simple, ongoing kindnesses that HaShem showers upon us constantly.
We, too, are surrounded every moment by HaShem’s gifts—our lives, our families, our health, our intelligence, our ability to learn Torah, our senses, our opportunities, and the countless unseen miracles that sustain us each day. When we recognize that nothing is taken for granted, everything becomes a reason to give thanks.
Today: Identify ten gifts that HaShem is granting you right now. Write them down. Reflect on them throughout the day, and let your heart overflow with gratitude. The more we notice HaShem’s gifts, the more we naturally thank Him for His endless goodness. (Based on the commentary of Rav Yaacov Yoseph Herman)
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