MenorahWritten by: Masha Pewzner Illustrated by: Tehila Finkelstein

Yep, this year Chanukah and Thanksgiving coincide. It only happened once before, in 1888. It is pretty unlikely that it will happen again. So let’s take advantage.

It got me thinking…

Chanukah and Thanksgiving, hmm…

Chanukah is the story of the Jewish people’s quest for religious freedom. It’s about how the Maccabees fought a powerful Greek army to be able to practice Judaism freely. They recognized it was G-d who brought them to their triumph and thanked Him for the countless miracles he showed them. They thanked G-d for their freedom.

Thanksgiving is the story of the Pilgrims quest for freedom. It’s about a taxing journey to escape religious persecution for freedom in a new land.

It is also the establishment of a democratic country of equal rights, opportunity, and liberty. They recognized it was G-d who brought them to their triumph and thanked Him for the countless miracles he showed them. They thanked G-d for their freedom.

Today we write the story of the quest for truth. It’s about revealing the goodness in the world – making it a place where G-d can feel comfortable. This can be done only by our choice to do what is right by following G-d’s handbook – the Torah. Let us recognize that it is G-d who will bring us to our triumph; and thank Him for the countless miracles He has shown us in the past and will show us in the future. Let’s thank G-d for our freedom.ortunity, and liberty. They recognized it was G-d who brought them to their triumph and thanked Him for the countless miracles he showed them. They thanked G-d for their freedom.

Let’s give the future a reason to celebrate.

So get out a good sweet potato – pumpkin latke recipe that does not take a miracle to make and get to work.

Let us thank G-d for the miracles He shows us in our daily life.

Serve and share.

Dreidel