GRATITUDE IN JEWISH TRADITION AND NEUROSCIENCE A Confluence of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science
The Power of Saying Thank You
In a busy, often overwhelming world, stopping to say “thank you” is more than just polite—it’s deeply spiritual. My local rabbi, Rabbi Yisroel Heschel Greenberg, once explained that in Judaism, gratitude (hakoras hatov) isn’t just a feeling. It needs an address—someone or something to direct our thanks toward. It’s an action, not just an emotion. In Jewish tradition, this practice of gratitude runs deep. And now, science is catching up. Neuroscience shows that expressing thanks doesn’t just feel good—it actually helps the brain function better, reduces stress, and improves emotional well-being. Remarkably, what the Torah has emphasized for thousands of years, science is now affirming with data.
Gratitude at the Core of Jewish Identity
Gratitude appears early in the Torah. When Leah names her son Yehudah, she says, “This time I will thank God” (Genesis 29:35). The word “Jew” (Yehudi) comes from this very name—meaning that being Jewish is rooted in being thankful. Daily Jewish life is filled with blessings that build a habit of gratitude. The Talmud suggests saying 100 blessings a day (Menachos 43b), and prayers like Modim in the Amidah thank God for everyday miracles. These aren’t just rituals—they’re spiritual habits that shape how we see the world.
Gratitude After a Meal: A Sacred Pause
The Torah commands us to say Birkas Hamazon—grace after meals (Deuteronomy 8:10): “You shall eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord your God.” This blessing teaches that even something as basic as eating is a moment for mindful awareness. Chassidic and Kabbalistic teachings add that when we use physical things like food for good purposes—like gaining strength to serve God—we elevate the material world. Gratitude turns everyday life into something holy.
From Thanks to Joy: Chassidic Wisdom
In Chassidic thought, gratitude is not just a response—it’s a state of being. The Tanya teaches that joy and gratitude help us overcome spiritual obstacles. Even difficult times can become opportunities for growth (yeridah l’tzorech aliyah—a descent for the sake of ascent). Rebbe Nachman of Breslov emphasized giving thanks for even the smallest things. For him, gratitude was a path to joy and connection with God. Gratitude doesn’t erase struggle, but it changes how we experience it. It brings perspective and inner balance.
How Gratitude Changes the Brain
Science now shows that being thankful affects how our brain works:
- Feel-Good Chemicals: Gratitude activates areas of the brain that release dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that make us feel happier.
- Less Stress: Gratitude lowers activity in the brain’s stress centers and reduces the hormone cortisol. This means better sleep, less anxiety, and improved health.
- Sharper Thinking: Studies show that gratitude practices like journaling increase activity in parts of the brain linked to decision-making and emotional balance.
- Better Relationships: Grateful people are more patient, empathetic, and less likely to act aggressively. Gratitude helps us focus on what we have, not what we lack.
Where Torah and Science Meet
Jewish practices like saying blessings and giving thanks are now shown to create healthier brains. Reciting 100 blessings a day is not just religious—it’s emotionally and mentally beneficial. These rituals regularly activate gratitude circuits in the brain, helping us build a more positive, stable outlook. Even in tough times, Judaism teaches us to say dayeinu—“it would have been enough.” Gratitude is a choice, not just a reaction. It’s an orientation to life that brings healing. As psychologist Robert Emmons says, “Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness… and the sources of this goodness are often outside of ourselves.” This echoes the Chassidic idea of bittul—humility and openness before God. Gratitude shifts our focus from ego to connection.
A Daily Practice, A Spiritual Tool
Today, people turn to mindfulness and gratitude to handle stress and anxiety. But Judaism has built this into daily life for centuries. Modeh Ani each morning, blessings before food, Sheheche’yanu at special moments—each is a sacred pause, a chance to reconnect. Science shows these practices improve brain health. Jewish wisdom teaches they also repair the soul.
Gratitude as a Way of Life
Being grateful isn’t about ignoring pain. It’s about choosing to see blessing even in difficulty. Gratitude brings us back to what really matters. It helps us find God in the ordinary. As the Psalms say, Hodu l’Hashem ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo—“Give thanks to God, for He is good; His kindness endures forever” (Psalms 136:1).
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With Gratitude,
Rus Devorah
Selected Bibliography
- Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377
- Fox, G. R., Kaplan, J., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. (2015). Neural correlates of gratitude. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1491. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01491
- Kini, P., Wong, J., McInnis, S., Gabana, N., & Brown, J. W. (2016). The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01223
- Moieni, M., Irwin, M. R., Haltom, K. E. B., Jevtic, I., Meyer, M. L., Breen, E. C., Cole, S. W., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2019). Exploring neural mechanisms of the health benefits of gratitude in women: A randomized controlled trial. Emotion, 19(6), 939–949. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000509
- Sacks, J. (2015). To thank before we think. Covenant & Conversation on Parashat Yitro. Retrieved from https://www.rabbisacks.org/covenant-conversation/yitro/to-thank-before-we-think/
- Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 890–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005
- Wong, Y. J., Owen, J., Gabana, N. T., Brown, J. W., & McInnis, S. M. (2018). Does gratitude writing improve the mental health of psychotherapy clients? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Psychotherapy Research, 28(2), 192–202. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2016.1169332
