Happy Double Day of Giving Thanks

We so quickly and casually say “Happy Thanksgiving” that we often miss and forget that it’s a day for actually giving thanks. Of course, so is every day and we begin everyday with Thanks.

This year brings a very interesting confluence of holidays.  This year Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first day of Chanukah.  Some have taken to calling it Thanksgivukkah.  This is the first time that this has happened since 1888.  It is not possible to actually know when this will happen again, although some estimates put it at 2146, and some say not for 77,798 years.

More important than when this might happen again, is to reflect on what the meaning of these two holidays have in common.  The Pilgrims celebrated their fleeing from religious persecution and arriving in the new land where they had the freedom to practice their religion.  One of the miracles of Chanukah was the fight and victory against religious persecution.

This year brings us a double reminder to be thankful, what to be thankful for, and of the precious freedom to be thankful.

How interesting that this year brings us this double message.  Why this year?

Thank You for being a friend of The Spinning Rabbi (and Fred Fox)

Happy Chanukah

Happy Thanksgiving