Seudat Hodaah

Is it proper to have a dinner with close friends celebrating a report of cancer remission?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Absolutely. Holding a “seudat hodaah” a meal of thanksgiving for personal miracles and kindness that one experienced from G-d is commendable and encouraged.

There is a story in the Talmud that Rav Avahu went to visit Rav Zeira when he was sick. (1) Rav Avahu declared that he would make a feast for all the rabbis if Rav Zeira would recover from his illness as a token of appreciation and gratitude for his recovery. Rav Zeira did indeed recover and the seudat hodaa was held.

Similarly, there is a story about Rav Yosef who was blind.(2) Rav Yosef declared that he would make a feast for the rabbis if someone could demonstrate that the opinion that a blind person is exempt from mitzvot is incorrect. This is because it was important to him to be reassured that blind people are rewarded for performing mitzvot just like everyone else. Here we see that it was simply the good news that the blind are indeed obligated in mitzvot which warranted Rav Yosef's seudat hodaa!

As such, it can be suggested that it is the good news alone warrants a seudat hodaa, and not even necessarily the existence of an actual illness that was cured.

In your case, when it is both good news and an illness that appears to have been cures, a Seudat Hodaa is especially in order! It is best to ensure that there is a minyan at your seuda but a mela with even three people is worthwhile. One should also consider setting aside charity that will go to support Torah study and when doing so one should say "I am giving this to charity in place of a thanksgiving offering which I would have brought to the Temple." One should also read the verses in the Torah dealing with the Thanksgiving offering and to ponder G-d's kindness and commit to sharing your story with others.

It is also worth mentioning that the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch rule that one who recuperates from a serious illness must recite the hagomel blessing. (3) The Rema, however, limits this ruling and says that it is only recited following an illness that was life-threatening.(4) As such, it seems that the Hagomal blessing is also in order.

1. Berachot 46a.

2. Bava Kama 87a.

3. Berachot 54b; OC 219:8.

4. Rema, OC 219:8.