MONDAY ESSENTIALS: Thanksgivukkah is Coming! What is That?

For members of the Jewish community, this week provides an additional reason to celebrate.

This year’s Thanksgiving coincides with the first full day of Hanukkah. So that means the Festival of Lights has earned the nickname Thanksgivukkah.

By now most are familiar with Hanukkah - alternately spelled Chanukah. According to ReformJudiasm.com, Hanukkah translates to "dedication" in Hebrew and “refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and ‘rededication’ of the Temple in Jerusalem.”

Families mark Hanukkah by lighting candles on a menorah for eight days and nights. Foods are prepared such as latkes, or potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, or jelly donuts, are prepared in oil.

ReformJudiasm.com has more Hanukkah information.

Speaking of food, a few sites are providing some recipes for Thanksgivukkah. Huffington Post provides some recipes that sound delicious. They include cranberry pistachio baked brie

If you’re looking to tie the Hanukkah and Thanksgiving meals Delish.com has a few suggestions including chili-braised brisket.

If you have any traditions or suggestions for this year's unique