Unless you’ve been hiding out in a cave, you know that this year is that rare occasion when Thanksgiving and Chanukah coincide. The last time it happened was in 1888 and it's impossible to determine when or if this will ever happen again.
Come to think of it, they actually have a lot in common.
Thanksgiving comes packed with a deep narrative, about an arduous journey to escape religious persecution for freedom in a new land, the establishment of a democratic charter and the sense of Divine providence that carried those refugees through their plight.
That is Chanukah, a narrative deeply embedded in the collective Jewish psyche of how we fought back against religious oppression in our own land, earned our freedom and thanked G-d for the miracles.
On Thanksgiving Americans act as if they identify with the plight of those Pilgrims. Most of us, after all, are descendants of those who fled to this side of the planet seeking a new and bright future. And when we think of America, we still think of a land of promise and liberty.
So Chanukah and Thanksgiving are deeply connected, and that connection can be summed up in just four words, "Thank G-d, we're free."
The 'Bellaire Chanukah Festival' gained a reputation for its creative themed Menorahs. So this year we decided to do something that emphasizes the ‘giving’ theme, a Menorah filled with toys, which will be distributed (through Aishel House) to children suffering from illness, so we can brighten up their Holiday as well.
Thanksgiving should always go together with giving-back and this is a great way to teach this lesson to the children.
Please help us create the Toy Menorah by collecting new toys that you will bring to the 'Chanukah in Toyland' celebration on Sunday, December 1, at Bellaire Town Square, ensuring that every child has a smile on their face this Chanukah.
Let's do it!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky