LOCAL RABBI BRINGS HIS THANKSGIVUKKAH SONG & STUDENTS TO PLIMOTH PLANTATION

 With thousands of YouTube views of its Ballad of Thanksgivukkah and national and international attention, students at Kehillah Schechter Academy, a private, K-8 Jewish day school in Norwood, Massachusetts, will continue to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime calendar event where it all began.

On Thursday, November 14, 2013, the students of Kehillah Schechter Academy will travel to Plimoth Plantation where they will sing the Ballad of Thanksgivukkah in the 17th century English Village and aboard the Mayflower II. While there, students will interact with the “residents” of Plymouth colony and deepen their appreciation for the experiences of the early colonists. The performance of the Ballad of Thanksgivukkah will be in the village at approximately 12:45 pm and on the Mayflower II at approximately 1:15 pm.

Rabbi David Paskin, co-head of the school explained, “In many ways, the stories of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are closely related. Both the Hasmoneans in the story of Hanukkah and pilgrims were searching and yearning for religious freedom.  How wonderful it is that here in America we can celebrate both of these festivals on the same day right here in Plymouth.”

Representative Viriato Manuel “Vinny” deMacedo of Plymouth, who will be joining the school in the celebration at Plimoth added, “Nowhere in America do faith and freedom intersect like they do in Plymouth with the story of the Pilgrims. How fitting it is that we can also celebrate Hanukkah here in Plymouth and share a similar story.”

Under the leadership of Rabbi David Paskin and Dr. Nitzan Resnick, Kehillah Schechter Academy is a vibrant educational incubator for children and adults where learning never stops. “Learning at KSA is personalized, collaborative and infused with Jewish wisdom and spirit,” Dr. Resnick explained. “We create an experiential educational environment in which learners think boldly and develop independence, Habits of Mind, and 21st century skills.”

Students will also be presenting Plimoth Plantation with a unique Thanksgiving themed Hanukkiah, or menorah - the nine branched candelabra traditionally used in the celebration of Hanukkah. Students will design and build the Thanksgiving Hanukkiah in KSA’s Engineering Lab.

To learn more about how Kehillah Schechter Academy is celebrating Thanksgivukkah, visit www.ksa-ne.org/thanksgivukkah.

For more information about Kehillah Schechter Academy, visit www.ksa-ne.org, email Rabbi David at dpaskin@ksa-ne.org or call 781-769-5555.