Israel Matzav

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers in America!

Labels: Thanksgiving

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:04 AM 1 comments

Black Friday

Actually, I got a lot of Black Friday email in Hebrew this year. But then, we don't have Thanksgiving....

Labels: humor, Thanksgiving

The Thanksgivukkah Medley (Simple Gifts and Hava Narima)

Although tonight is only the second night of Chanuka - six more to go - today is the only day of Thanksgivukkah for the next 78,000 years or so. In other words, post all the Thanksgivukkah stuff today.

Let's go to the videotape.

Labels: Chanuka, Thanksgiving

Thanksgivukkah turkey

Here's an idea for your turkey today.

After 22 years here, we don't ordinarily have turkey on Thanksgiving. It's an ordinary school and work day (the two younger boys had a half day of school today because of Chanuka).

Labels: Chanuka, Thanksgiving

Thanksgivukkah classic

Heh.

Labels: Chanuka, humor, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner

Labels: Chanuka, Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgivukkah

It's a once in a lifetime celebration.

Labels: Chanuka, Thanksgiving

A day of historic firsts

Thursday is Thanksgivukkah, the first time ever that Chanuka and Thanksgiving have coincided. I've saved a lot of posts for the day for you....

But in addition to that historic first, here is a post listing all of President Hussein Obama's historic firsts. It's the longest list I've ever seen on the blogosphere other than the list of people who have been banned from Chuckles the Clown's Little Green Footballs.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, blogosphere, Chanuka, Thanksgiving

"Thanksgivukkah Pie", Holiday Tribute by Benji Lovitt

I have so many Thanksgivukah posts lined that I figured I'd better start posting them or you'll miss out. But first, a word of explanation.

Thanksgiving is set as the fourth Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can be is 11/28. 11/28 is also the earliest Chanukah can be.

The Jewish calendar repeats on a 19-year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7-year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19x7 = 133 years. Looking back, this is approximately correct – the last time it would have happened is 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, it has never happened before.

Why won't it ever happen again?

The reason is because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000 years. This means that while presently Chanukah can be as early as 11/28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Chanukah can be is 11/29. The next time Chanukah falls on 11/28 is the year 2146, which is 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 would again fall on Thursday, 11/28...in the year 79,811.

It has never happened before, and it will never happen again.

Here's "Thanksgivukkah Pie", Holiday Tribute by Benji Lovitt.

Let's go to the videotape.

Chanuka starts Wednesday night, and if you want to send me some Chanuka gelt (money), I'd be thrilled.... Just click the PayPal on the side.

Labels: Benji Lovitt, Chanuka, humor, Thanksgiving

Thanksgivukkah: The Best Holiday of All Time

It will be 79,043 years (according to one source I saw) until Thanksgiving and Chanuka coincide again. But they're falling together this year. This video is entertaining to me because it was filmed in Boston and I actually know some of the people in it.

Let's go to the videotape (Hat Tip: Lance K).

Labels: Chanuka, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving under attack by Chanuka

For those of you who haven't heard yet, Thanksgiving and Chanuka coincide this year for the first time in about 200 years.

Let's go to the videotape.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Video Archive

Heh.

Labels: Chanuka, humor, Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Turkey Day everyone in the US. And GO PATRIOTS! (No, I don't think I'm going to stay up for a game that starts at 3:30 am local time...).

Labels: Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day!

I want to wish all my American readers, wherever you are, a Happy Turkey Day today. I hope you're enjoying your long weekend.

And for those who are worried that it's forbidden for Jews to celebrate a non-Jewish holiday, according to most rabbis, this isn't that holiday and that's why I can wish you a happy one.

Let's go to the videotape.

Just replace Herbert Hoover with Barack Obama?

Labels: Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who are celebrating today (I guess that's mainly the Americans). We all have much for which to be grateful today and every day.

Today is an ordinary workday in Israel, and I hope to have ordinary posting today, God willing.

Of course, my team is playing the 'early game' at 12:30....

Labels: Football, New England Patriots, Thanksgiving

Video: Obama to pardon national turkey

Yes, of course, Barack Obama has decided to pardon the national turkey.

Let's go to the videotape.

Obama Outlines Moral, Philosophical Justifications For Turkey Pardon

Heh.

Labels: Barack Obama, Thanksgiving