Thankful: Part 3 – Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

An old Rabbinic teaching says: "In the coming Messianic age all sacrifices will cease, but the thanksgiving offering [todah in Hebrew] will never cease." What is it about this sacrifice that makes it stand alone in such a way that it would outlast all other sacrifices after the redemption of the Messiah? A todah sacrifice would be offered by someone whose life had been greatly blessed or helped by God. What does the word "todah" mean? It is Hebrew for "thanksgiving," although it also connotes a confession of praise in addition to gratitude. For example, Leah gave thanks to God when she bore her fourth son, and so she named him yehudah—or Judah—which is the verbal form of todah—to give thanks. Today we are going to offer our thanks to God by giving to those in need.