VIDEO: Here are the 5 things I thank God for this Thanksgiving Day
Born and raised in the US, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday even though we live in and love our life in Israel
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and His faithful love endures forever; His faithfulness, through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Thanksgiving is not an Israeli holiday, obviously.
The Pilgrims didn't come here.
The Mayflower didn't sail here.
Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving special makes no reference to Israel or the Jewish people.
Got it.
But having been born and raised in the United States, I absolutely love this holiday.
Indeed, as much as I love Christmas, the truth is, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
I also love the month of November – the weather, the fun foods, and the feeling that the year, however intense, is coming to an end, and Lynn and I will have the opportunity to slow down and spend more time with dear family and friends.
I love this month so much that I named the first company that I founded, “November Communications, Inc.”
Why?
Because I was advising political leaders and Christian ministry leaders, and November is the month that Americans elect our government leaders, and thank God for the freedoms and liberties that the Lord has graciously and lovingly bestowed upon us.
Eleven years ago, Lynn and I and our sons made aliyah, became Israeli citizens, and moved here from Northern Virginia to the Promised Land.
We've been happily celebrating Thanksgiving every single year, and this year is no exception.
And every year, I take some time to reflect upon that for which I’m most thankful.
To that end, we just posted on THE ROSENBERG REPORT's YouTube channel a new video in which I share the five things that I'm especially thanking God for this year, and I hope you'll take a look.
NUMBER FIVE: I'm so thankful to the Lord this year that He heard the prayers of millions of Jews and Christians and set free all of our hostages from Hamas Hell in Gaza.
Praise God that President Donald J. Trump and his team – including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio – were so determined to get all our hostages back and worked tirelessly to that end.
I also praise God for the determination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team – including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer – to bring all of our hostages home, despite raging and relentless attacks against them that they had no intention to do so.
What’s more, I thank God for our Arab and Muslim allies who helped get the deal done, despite my many concerns and criticisms of those allies.
Remember, almost every journalist, political analyst, and political leader in the region and the world leader thought it was impossible that all the hostages would be released.
Many, perhaps most, Israelis genuinely feared that no more hostages at all would be released after President Trump’s stunning deal in January.
God heard those prayers, and He said, “Yes.”
Above all, we’ve seen a miracle.
Yes, all those people I mentioned earlier worked hard to make this happen.
But ultimately it was the hand of the Almighty God of Israel that forced Hamas to release every single live hostage and all but two (so far) bodies of the hostages that they murdered.
I’m so thankful to God above all – and I hope you are, too – for making the impossible really happen before our very eyes.
It’s been especially moving to me, having just had the opportunity to sit down for an hour and interview one of those Israelis whose release was so miraculous.
Eli Sharabi was captured by Hamas on Oct. 7 and spent 491 days being tortured and starved in Gaza but the Lord heard our prayers and set him free.
Indeed, we’ve made it our ALL ISRAEL NEWS Book Club recommendation for November.
I strongly encourage you to get and read a copy in hardcover, e-book, or audio and to buy copies as gifts for family and friends.
There is no better way to understand just what a miracle his release really was and why we should all be so thankful for the Lord’s gracious and merciful hand.
NUMBER FOUR: I’m so thankful to God for the destruction of Iran’s nuclear threat.
Why?
Because Iran’s leaders have repeatedly and routinely threatened to destroy the State of Israel, which they call the “Little Satan,” and the United States of America, which they call the “Great Satan.”
A growing number of military and intelligence analysts in the region warned that Iran had not only enriched enough uranium to fuel multiple nuclear bombs but was also getting dangerously close to having the technical capabilities to actually build and deploy fully operational nuclear bombs.
No other American president has ever shown such resolve against the Iran threat.
No other American president has ever shown such solidarity with Israel.
Nor has any other Israeli prime minister ever shown such laser focus over decades to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat once and for all.
So, I’m grateful for the Trump-Netanyahu partnership – and for everyone in the U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies and armed forces that so successfully carried out their orders.
Might we need to have more military action against the Iranian regime and its nuclear and military capacities? I hope not, but yes, that’s possible.
Nevertheless, I’m thankful to the God of Israel for utterly destroying the Iranian nuclear threat this year and giving everyone in this region the opportunity to sleep peacefully knowing a nuclear apocalypse is not just around the corner.
NUMBER THREE: I’m so thankful to God for the life and love and ministry of my Mom – Mary Joan Copia Rosenberg – who went home to be with the Lord in heaven on Oct. 2.
My Mom was born on Dec. 22, 1939.
She was 85.
Married to my Dad for 60 years, she loved him so much.
She loved my two sisters and me.
She loved Israel and came here with my Dad so many times.
Above all, she loved Jesus, the Word of God, and the Church.
She was a great Bible teacher and loved to teach women how to lead inductive Bible studies.
She was passionate and fearless about telling other people how to get to heaven.
And now she is there, worshipping before the throne of God, celebrating with all the saints, walking the streets of glory, and I’m so, so thankful.
On Oct. 13, I had the honor of delivering the eulogy to honor my Mom at the memorial service we held near Denver, Colorado.
NUMBER TWO: I’m so thankful to the Lord for the ALL ISRAEL NEWS team, THE ROSENBERG REPORT and TBN team, and for The Joshua Fund team.
One of the great joys of my life is to work with people who have such great professional skills, such powerful spiritual gifts, and such team spirit.
I love watching them do what they do best and supporting them in every way I can.
And I’m so grateful for them because they make it possible for me to serve the Lord according to His calling on my life.
Next week is "GivingTuesday."
It would mean a great deal to me if you would prayerfully consider giving generously so that we can all keep serving you faithfully.
You can give to The Joshua Fund by clicking here.
And you can give to TBN by clicking here.
Thank you so much!
NUMBER ONE: I’m also so, so thankful to the Lord for the growing openness of people – both here in Israel and throughout the Epicenter region – to seeking God, reading the Bible, and even considering whether Jesus is really the Messiah.
Over the past several years, my colleagues and I have published numerous reports about the growing spiritual interest – even hunger – among Israeli Jews, as well as among Muslims in the region.
Consider a few examples:
Hit Israeli pop songs reflect spiritual hunger | All Israel News
Why THOUSANDS Of Israeli Jews Are Embracing Christianity | Rosenberg Report
Millions of Iranian Muslims CONVERTING to Christianity | Dr. Hormoz Shariat | All Israel News
Dr. Hormoz Shariat on Iran's Great Awakening | All Israel News
Bible sales soar as world events continue to shake | All Israel News
Religious Revival SWEEPING Through Israel; Gaza Christians Face PERSECUTION | The Rosenberg Report
Why is God Shaking the House of Israel? - Joel Rosenberg
Praying for Gaza: A Biblical Perspective on Love & Judgment - Joel Rosenberg's Powerful Message
This is a story we will continue covering closely.
Huge spiritual awakenings are underway in Communist China, sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, and elsewhere around the world, where hundreds of millions of people are coming to a personal, saving, and transformative faith in Jesus Christ.
Historically, Jews and Muslims have resisted the Gospel message.
But something is really changing.
Both Jews and Muslims started opening their hearts to Jesus as the crucified and risen Savior in the 1970s.
Today, around one million Jews, around the world, follow Jesus as Messiah.
Tens of millions of Muslims now do, as well.
Over the last several years – particularly since Oct. 7 – we’re seeing even more interest, especially here in Israel, of Jews seeking to know God personally, interested in reading the Bible, and even considering whether Yeshua is really the Jewish Messiah.
I’m deeply encouraged by what I’m seeing.
Indeed, this is the trend I’m most thankful for this year.
Let’s pray this spiritual hunger grows in 2026 and beyond.
Joel C. Rosenberg is the editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS and the President and CEO of Near East Media. A New York Times best-selling author, Middle East analyst, and Evangelical leader, he lives in Jerusalem with his wife and sons.
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