The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah predates Christmas by at least a couple centuries. But for the first time since 2002, the “festival of lights” is being mentioned in the same breath as a different holiday, Thanksgiving. And that likely won’t happen again until people travel in flying cars and live on Mars.
The first night of Hanukkah begins at sunset Nov. 27. And because November started on a Friday, Thanksgiving doesn’t take place until Nov. 28. And that’s not very common.
“It’s quite rare for Hanukkah and Thanksgiving to overlap, but it’s not really rare for it to start in November,” said Rabbi Mendy Yarmush, who leads Chabad at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Hanukkah “started on Nov. 28 in 1994, and it will again in 2032. The only thing different is that Thanksgiving is a lot later than it usually is.”
The last time Hanukkah started on the Thanksgiving eve was in 1899, according to ReformJudaism.org. And it will only happen once more — in 2089.
That means Jews will celebrate Hanukkah the same time they’re sitting down to watch football. And it opens the door to merge some of the traditions of both holidays.
The rabbi’s wife, Chanie Yarmush, recently shared some recipes with her women’s group that provide the best of both worlds. For example, instead of the traditional potato latkes, Chanie Yarmush suggests sweet potato latkes. Instead of applesauce, families could try cranberry-applesauce.
“That’s what Chabad is, a place to be traditional and still be contemporary with what’s going on throughout the world,” Mendy Yarmush said.
Chabad at Wiregrass, which started in 2008 and is part of the international Chabad movement, is staying out of the way of traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, but has still scheduled a pair of events to help celebrate the holiday.
The first is a Hanukkah party on Nov. 27 where teens will load a stretch limousine to first attend the grand menorah lighting in Tampa, and then continue their celebration at the Tampa Bay Lightning game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Then, on Dec. 1, Chabad at Wiregrass will host its sixth annual Hanukkah celebration at The Shops at Wiregrass. That will include a menorah lighting in front of the Dillard’s store, and a number of other activities including music, food, face painting, and even a giant Jenga game.
Both events start at 5:30 p.m.
“I didn’t want to challenge people to choose between Thanksgiving and Hanukkah,” Yarmush said. “This way, they have the first night to light their menorah, to heat their turkey, and maybe even play a little with the dreidel.”
Chabad at Wiregrass is not affiliated with any particular Jewish movement, although the international group has roots in the Hasidic community. Its congregation, which pulls from North Tampa and central Pasco County, meets at 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel.
For more information, visit them online at ChabadAtWiregrass.com.
Ancient miracle at root of Hanukkah
Probably best known for the menorah, a candelabrum with eight candles used to observe each night, Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration dating back to the final centuries before what has become known as the “common era.”
The Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes invaded Judea, where Jerusalem and the Second Temple were located. The king looted the city, and banned many Jewish practices.
This created a revolt that would eventually be led by Judah Maccabee. Once the Greeks were run out of the city, Maccabee took possession of the temple, and worked to purify it from the invasion. A menorah was required to burn throughout the night every night, but there was only a day’s supply of olive oil available — and it would take a week to produce more.
Yet, the oil somehow lasted eight days, creating a miracle that has been celebrated ever since.
Hanukkah is celebrated toward the end of the Jewish month Kislev, which usually falls in November or December of the common calendar. It typically features fried foods like pontshkes and latkes (jam-filled doughnuts and potato pancakes), to recognize the importance of oil, and includes small gift exchanges.
Hanukkah observances also are a time for kids to play games with a dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side.
— Michael Hinman
