8 Ways to Combine Hanukkah and Thanksgiving

It could only happen once every 7,000 years, so consider yourself lucky that the first night of Hanukkah is on Thanksgiving. But if your holidays tend to be large gatherings, you might find a unique mix of guests this year. 

"The typical Thanksgiving crowd might not be your average Hanukkah crowd," said Rabbi Ari Moffic, Director of Interfaith Family in Chicago. "I hope interfaith families on the North Shore know they have support exploring spirituality and Judaism."

With the help of Moffic and in the spirit of the eight nights of Hanukkah, here are eight ways to combine the two holidays into a unique and exciting celebration. 

1. Be Sensitive to Language. Choose labels wisely because they can hurt people. Referring to someone as a non-Jew might be accurate, but could make people feel left out. Remember to be inclusive by asking guests if and how they would like to be spiritually identified. Steer clear of words such as "goy" or "gentile" that Moffic says can be interpreted as derogatory and push people away. 

2. Inform Yourself. "Judaism is hard, it has a wide learning curve," Moffic said, so don't put too much pressure on yourself to make the combined holiday spiritually perfect. But if you want to sprinkle some Hanukkah on your Thanksgiving, visit Interfaith Family for a simple latkes recipe or the rules of Dreidel.

3. Hanukkah Isn't About Presents. According to Moffic, the tradition of exchanging gifts on Hanukkah seemed to emerge as Jewish families began to assimilate in Western culture and respond to Christmas. "If you hear 'What did I get?' you have to reframe that," she said. Giving presents on Hanukkah is great when you want to convey your feelings for the important people in your life, but remember that the best gift someone can receive on the holiday is family time and a warm home. 

4. Appreciate the Unique Coincidence. Hanukkah and Thanksgiving have never overlapped like this before and there's a 7,0000-year chance they won't overlap again. So remember to be playful and creative. Traditionally, Menorahs are placed in a window or near a home's front door. Does that mean placing a Menorah as a Thanksgiving table's centerpiece automatically wrong? Moffic doesn't think so. 

5. Ask Questions. If you're celebrating Thanksgiving with Hanukkah first timers, don't forget to embrace the opportunity to learn about others. "Diversity has always been good for our people," Moffic said. "We are layered, our identities are blended and our families are blended." So make the most of this time to bond and get to know the folks at your table. 

6. Enjoy the Ritual. Like many organized religions, there's plenty of Hanukkah nuance to keep you busy along the way. Don't be shocked if you start to feel overwhelmed. But Moffic says "Judaism is a religion of hope," and the Menorah is a reminder of that. "We add a candle each night to add to the light." Soon enough, you will have more light than darkness — appreciate how far you've come.

7. Don't Assume Things. Just because someone belongs to a Jewish family, does not make them the authority on Hanukkah. Likewise, people with other spiritual backgrounds might know more about Judaism than you expect. It's a very old religion, word gets around. 

8. Eat and Have Fun. Food brings people together. Whether it's a big turkey or a potato pancake covered in cranberry sauce, it's okay if you end up eating twice as much while you celebrate double the holidays.