Assimilation no doubt played a role in making Hanukkah the commercialized holiday it is today. But other factors shaped the modern festival, too, a scholar of Jewish studies and gender explains.

The holidays are extra special this year. Not only is Dec. 25 Christmas, but it marks the beginning of Hanukkah. This particular alignment of the holidays is rare. In fact, it has only occurred four other times since 1900,

The start of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, falls on the same day as Christmas this year, and the occurrence is rare.

F or the first time since 2005, the first night of Hanukkah will fall on the same day as Christmas. The two winter holidays converge an average of five times a century, according to Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis.

The Jewish community in City gathered Wednesday night to light the first of the eight candles for Hanukkah, marking the first time in nearly two decades that the holiday overlapped with Christmas.