NT RARE OCCURANCE

[kcjenkins]

This year, Thanksgiving and the start of Hanukkah fall on the same date for the first time in 125 years! We thought it would be fun to share this article we found with amazing recipes like sweet potato latkes and pumpkin donuts. Enjoy!

Cranberry sauce and menorahs are joining together for the rare convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, which some are cleverly marketing as “Thanksgivukah.” Next Thursday, on the second night of Hanukkah, Jews across the United States will be lighting menorahs after their feasts, playing the dreidel game between forkfuls of pumpkin pie and exchanging gifts after the football game is over.

The last time the two holidays overlapped was in 1918, when Jews lit one menorah candle on Thanksgiving night, and it won’t happen again until Nov. 27, 2070. So whether it is a Jewish twist on a Thanksgiving standby or adding some fall flavors to your Hanukkah menu, now is the time to create memories that can last the next 57 years.

Paula Shoyer, author of “The Holiday Kosher Baker,” is using the occasion as an excuse to get extra creative at her holiday table. “It’s fun to experiment and see what works, what’s too silly and what’s truly delicious,” she said.

On Hanukkah is it customary to eat foods fried in oil to commemorate the historical event when the Jews won their land back in battle. After their victory, they wanted to rededicate their temple, but only had enough oil to burn for one day. However, that small bit of oil miraculously lasted for eight days.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/a-rare-convergence-of-thanksgiving-and-hanukkah/