As we are prepare for Pesach, we continue to discuss the topic of Hakarat HaTov. The Ramban, at the end of Parashat Bo, says that the purpose of all the mitzvot that we do is to believe in God (that alone is not enough) and thank Him for creating us. That's why God created the world. There's no other reason that God created the world, other than having people in the world recognize Him. That's why we pray in shuls together. That's why we pray out loud. Shuls are just a place to gather and say two magic words: Briotecha Anachnu/We are Your creations. Rav Wolbe says that Hashem doesn't need this. As the pasuk in Iyov says, “ If you became righteous what did you give Him?” Or , “What did He take from your hands?” It’s for our benefit, our perfection, our wealth, when we thank Him. The more we thank Hashem, the more we become internally wealthy. And Rav Wolbe says that we're doing it anyway. The Jewish religion is all about Hakarat HaTov; but are we really paying attention to it? Therefore, he says, we say Modim three times a day. Three times a day, we bow and thank Hashem. He says, when you bow and thank Hashem, think a little bit, and put a little bit more effort into really thanking Hashem every single day. Again, as Rav Wolbe says, it's for us . Even secular sources show how the world recognizes that it's for us, not for Him. A study was done by two psychologists at the University of Miami. They studied three groups of people. One group wrote about things they were grateful for, that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that displeased them. A third group wrote about events that had affected them, with no emphasis on positive or negative. After ten weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. They also had less visits to the doctor than the ones that focused on aggravation. So it's quite clear that gratitude is good for us. Another point that Rav Wolbe makes that is the theme of Jewish life is thank you. The first words that come out of our mouth in the morning are Modeh Ani. In Nishmat , and in Yishtabach, which we say every day, we say, “ Above and beyond all of the songs of David…” He says this that means that David Hamelech’s tehilim is for everybody. But every individual has to go beyond that, and create his own Tehilim. As it says in Nishmat , “ If my mouth was full of song like the ocean… ” we would not have enough to thank Hashem for even one of the millions of goodnesses that He does for us, and so on. We end the Seder with Nishmat because that is the goal of the night of the Seder. All our Emunah and bitachon hizuk , is not enough. We have to walk out with Hakarat HaTov. We have to walk out with feelings of gratitude, as if we got out of Egypt. The question is asked, Why do ladies say Hallel on the night of the Seder, if ladies normally don't have time-bound Mitzvot. One of the answers is that a lady is obligated to say Hallel when a miracle happens to her. If a miracle happens to one of the Jewish people, there is responsibility to say Hallel. And the miracle on the night of the Seder is happening to us, right then and there. We have to walk out with the thrill of someone that was taken out of jail, or the thrill of a man that was healed…of all those four people that have to say thank you. That is the feeling of the night of the Seder. Have a wonderful day.