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2013 is a unique year for American Jews. A once in eternity overlap with Chanukah and Thanksgiving:. This year it may mean that some of our patients at Smiles by Lorino in Long Hill will be replacing their sweet potatoes with latkes.
The first day of Chanukah/Hanukkah starts at sunset on Wednesday November 27 the night before Thanksgiving, which falls on November 28, 2013. It turns out that this has never happened before . . . and it will never happen again.
Thanksgiving is set as the fourth Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can be is November 28. November 27 is also the earliest Chanukah can be.
The last time this would have happened was 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, the overlap has never officially occured before.
Why won’t it ever happen again?
The next time Chanukah falls on November 27 is 2146 (which happens to be a Monday). Therefore, 2013 is the only time Chanukah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving.
Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now.
So, Chanukah will again fall on Thursday, November 27 . . . in the year 79,811. At Smiles by Lorino Orthodontics, we would like to wish all our patients in the Long Hill and Franklin Lakes area a Happy Thanksgiving or Chanukah or both!! Enjoy your holiday.