The last time Hanukkah and Thanksgiving shared the same date — 1861 — Thanksgiving wasn’t actually an established holiday. And it won’t happen again for another 70,000 years. Dubbed “Thanksgivukkah,” this convergence of holidays has inspired all sorts of celebrations in our area.
The Town of Oyster Bay Chabad in Woodbury will take over the Plainview Shopping Center Nov. 27 parking lot on South Oyster Bay Road for its annual Hanukkah Spectacular, free and open to everyone who RSVPs, offering post-Thanksgiving dinner festivities beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Cardone, the Ultimate Vaudevillian will perform and there will be music, latkes and donuts for all. And for those who aren’t big on turkey, there will also be pizza served. At 6:15 the grand menorah will be lit near Shoprite.
Ben’s Kosher Restaurant, Delicatessen & Caterers in Woodbury is celebrating both holidays by serving up matzo balls and latkes—along with roast turkey, stuffing, yams, sweet potato pudding and anything else you’d require for the perfect Thanksgivukkah celebration.
“We invite everyone to enjoy a unique holiday meal from Ben’s,” says Ben’s Founder-Owner Ronnie Dragoon. “This is a special day where two holidays converge and our customers can enjoy traditional American and Kosher cuisine, while spending quality time with their families.”
Ben’s is not only offering latkes and turkey in the Woodbury restaurant, it’s even offering custom Thanksgivukkah catering packages that include a 15-pound whole roast turkey with all the trimmings, including latkes.
But there won’t be any turnkey at Jericho’s annual Hanukkah celebration and menorah lighting, taking place on Dec. 1—the fifth day of Hanukkah and long after all the Thanksgiving leftovers run out —in the Whole Foods parking lot. But just because two holidays aren’t being celebrated doesn’t mean the celebration will be toned down.
In addition to plenty of latkes and doughnuts, music and dancing, fire-jugglers will be performing.
“[Hanukkah] is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition” said Rabbi Aaron Shain, director of the Chabad Jewish Learning Center, which is hosting the event. “In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place.”
Chanukah also propagates the universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness, said Shain.
