October 31, 2013--Thanksgivukah

In an unusual coincidence, this year two movable feasts will occur at the same time. Thanksgiving and Hanukah.

Thanksgiving is "movable" because it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November and Hanukah occurs on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Though the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars do not overlap, Hanukah is usually celebrated in early December but occasionally, including this year, it occurs in late November. Thus the confluence of Hanukah and Thanksgiving. The last time that happened was 1888.

Taking advantage of the early arrival of Hanukah, Manischewitz is launching a major ad campaign to encourage their customers to celebrate "Thanksgivukah."

To give you a flavor for this, check out Manischewitz's special Thansgivukah website where the familiar Hanukah menorah, or candelabra, is shown topped with a turkey; or better, look carefully at another image of a turkey where its tail feathers are mashed-up with a menorah so that each feather becomes one of the traditional nine Hanukah candles. Sort of clever.

Then if you have the time, take a look at how Manischewitz suggests using its food products as part of one's Thanksgiving meal.

How, for example, they claim their famous chicken soup ("Jewish penicillin") is ideal for making turkey stuffing. And how their Tam Tams (matzoh-like crackers) "are here for all your Thankgivukah schmears."

For the younger, computer-oriented set, Manischewitz has a line of e-cards. One shows a man with a pipe who says, "When it comes to Thanksgivukah, I rock it old schul." With "shul" being the Yiddish word for "synagogue" or, if your prefer, "temple."

According to the New York Times, which keeps track of these kinds of cultural trends, another e-card shows an all-American family from the Dick and Jane era (well, maybe this pitch isn't after all focused on the youthful) with a groaner of a pun, "There's no place like home for the Challahdays." (Challah being the egg bread served during many Jewish holidays.)

While a third shows two couples at a table in front of a turkey. "Mmm . . . ," the caption reads, "Do I smell latkas?" (Potato pancakes, for the uninitiated.)

One thing I am thankful for--there won't be another confluence of Thanksgiving and Hanukah for about 225 years. In the meantime, I won't be celebrating Thanksgivukah.