Hanukkah starts the night before Thanksgiving this year, leading some people to call the holiday “Thanksgivukkah”. This has never happened before, and will never happen again. Yet, it is fitting that they do overlap, as there is much to be grateful for about both holidays. Hanukkah is the celebra-tion of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Like Thanksgiving, the festival of lights celebrates a miracle, the victory of a few over the many. Thanksgiving celebrates another miracle, the survival of the Pilgrims and a bountiful harvest after a perilous journey and difficult year in their new home.
At Temple Etz Chaim, we have much to be thankful for; we have a community of people who truly care about each other, celebrating in good times, and consoling each other in times of trouble. We have a vibrant religious school, complete with library, music and art, where our children get an excellent Jewish education. We have new adult education offerings, in-cluding weekly torah study, led by the rabbi. We have many B’nei mitzvah throughout the year, joyous occasions, where our young people celebrate becoming a young adult in our community. We have a vibrant sisterhood, and brotherhood, a wonderful choir and a knitting group, all venues for deepening our ties with each other.
There are many who do not have as much, and at this time of year it is important to remember this. There is much em-phasis put on providing material help for those in need, and that is very important. As important however, is providing emotional support, friendship and caring to others. It may be as simple as a kind word to someone who seems to be hav-ing a bad day or inviting someone new to the area to come worship with us, so that they may feel the warmth of our com-munity. It may be inviting a college student who cannot get home to share one or both holidays with your family. Shar-ing community and a sense of belonging can help make “Thanksgivukkah” that much more meaningful.