President Obama addressing the nation about the Iran nuclear deal. Photo: White House.

Times of Israel – President Barack Obama gave a Hanukkah blessing of freedom to Jews the world over in a statement released Wednesday, while his counterpart British Prime Minister David Cameron tried to calm Israeli concerns over a recent deal to scale back Iran’s nuclear program.

Obama began by noting the extreme rarity of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving coinciding, as they do this year. “For the first time since the late 1800s — and for the last time until some 70,000 years from now — the first day of Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving,” he said in a statement released by the White House. “It’s an event so rare some have even coined it ‘Thanksgivukkah.’ As we gather with loved ones around the turkey, the menorah, or both, we celebrate some fortunate timing and give thanks for miracles both great and small.”

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