Eight Reasons for Thanks

This Thursday, as Americans gather together to eat turkey and sweet potatoes, a small percentage of us will do so near the flickering lights of our Chanukah menorot. Many people have written about the convergence of these two holidays, which has cutely been dubbed "Thanksgivvukah."

This year, as we give thanks on Thanksgiving, American Jews can keep in mind these eight special reasons for American Jews to give thanks.

The Syrian-Greeks who ruled over Judea in the time of the Maccabees not only banned Torah study, circumcision, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh (the celebration of the new month), but they also tried to force Jews to worship idols and eat non-kosher food?

Thankfully, we live in a time and place where we can live the Jewish life that we want.