It’s amazing to what lengths people will go to avoid Thanksgiving. It is and has never been a religious holiday. In fact , the first official Thanksgiving had Jewish origins. President Washington wanted Congress to declare a national day of thanksgiving to thank G-d for the new U.S. Constitution. Southern Congressmen objected as they said such declarations were the actions of kings. They had just rebelled against a king and did not want Washington acting like one.
Roger Sherman , a Congressman from Connecticut arose and gave a different reason in support of the declaration. He said they were emulating King Solomon, not European kings . Just as Solomon thanked G-d for allowing him to build the Temple, they were thanking G-d for the Constitution. The southerners accepted his reasoning and voted for it.
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