White House Hanukkah Party
Encyclopedia
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Hanukkah
Hanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
Party is an annual reception held at the White House and hosted by the President and First Lady to recognize and celebrate the Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
festival of Hanukkah. The tradition was established in 2001, during the administration of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
The reception has become one of a number of ways the president recognizes the holiday, along with a proclamation/message, and participation by the president or a member of his staff in the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah (Hanukkiyah, special 9-branch Hanukkah candelabra) on the National Mall
National Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
. Additionally, in 1996, a United States postage stamp was issued for the first time in honor of the holiday.
Pre-White House Story: George Washington and Hanukkah
Although the truth of the story is impossible to prove, there is an account about George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and the meaning of Hanukkah that has become part of American lore:
For centuries, the lights of the Hanukkah menorah have inspired hope and courage. They may have also been responsible for inspiring then-General George Washington to forge on when everything looked bleak when his cold and hungry Continental Army camped at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777/8.
The story is told that Washington was walking among his troops when he saw one soldier sitting apart from the others, huddled over what looked like two tiny flames. Washington approached the soldier and asked him what he was doing. The soldier explained that he was a Jew and he had lit the candles celebrate Hanukkah, the festival commemorating the miraculous victory of his people so many centuries ago over the tyranny of a much better equipped and more powerful enemy who had sought to deny them their freedom. The soldier then expressed his confidence that just as, with the help of God, the Jews of ancient times were ultimately victorious, so too would they would be victorious in their just cause for freedom. Washington thanked the soldier and walked back to where the rest of the troops camped, warmed by the inspiration of those little flames and the knowledge that miracles are possible.
The historical source for the above story is a second-hand account, but is nonetheless fairly credible. In December, 1778, General George Washington had supper at the home of Michael Hart, a Jewish merchant in Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It was during the Hanukkah celebration, and Hart began to explain the customs of the holiday to his guest. Washington replied that he already knew about Hanukkah. He told Hart and his family of meeting the Jewish soldier at Valley Forge the previous year. (According to Washington, the soldier was a Polish immigrant who said he had fled his homeland because he could not practice his faith under the Prussian government there.) Hart's daughter Louisa wrote the story down in her diary. The story has been quoted by several Jewish historians, including Rabbi I. Harold Sharfman in his 1977 book, Jews on the Frontier.
Early years: Christmas at the White House, but not Hanukkah
For two centuries after the time of the story about George Washington and Hanukkah, Christmas was the only winter religious holiday officially recognized by the White House. In 1923, President Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
began lighting an official White House Christmas Tree
White House Christmas tree
The White House Christmas Tree, also known as the Blue Room Christmas Tree, is the official indoor Christmas tree at the residence of the President of the United States, the White House...
, and also delivered the first formal presidential message for the holiday. In 1927, his proclamation included the statement that, "“Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind." Focusing on the holiday's message, he continued, would guarantee that “there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.”
Franklin Roosevelt continued the White House tradition of treating Christmas as if it were a holiday celebrated by all Americans, declaring that Christmas was a national holiday "because the teachings of Christ are fundamental to our lives." Harry Truman did the same, using his Christmas message as an opportunity to ask Americans to "put our trust in the unerring Star which guided the Wise Men to the Manger of Bethlehem." However, although he may never have spoken about Hanukkah, Truman was historically linked to the holiday, at least indirectly, when in 1951, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion made an official presentation of a Hanukkah menorah to Truman and the people of the United States.
Even John Kennedy described Christmas as an important time for citizens of all religions, without addressing the importance of Hanukkah to the Jewish community when he declared in 1962 that "Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, as well as Christians, pause from their labors the 25th day of December the celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace," and that "there could be no more striking proof that Christmas is truly the universal holiday of all men."
Early White House Hanukkah links
Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
was the first president who officially recognized Hanukkah, when in 1979 he walked from the White House to Lafayette Park
Lafayette Park
Lafayette Park may refer to a location in the United States:*Lafayette Park, Detroit, Michigan, a park, development, and neighborhood*Lafayette Park Historic District, a historic district in Albany, New York...
to deliver brief remarks as he lit the new "National Menorah" erected by the Jewish group, Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Lubavitch is a Chasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism. One of the world's larger and best-known Chasidic movements, its official headquarters is in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York...
. Based on his sensitivity to Hanukkah, his next annual Christmas message was carefully worded, with greetings "to those of our fellow citizens who join us in the joyous celebration of Christmas." Since then, every president has participated in a menorah-lighting ceremony to recognize Hanukkah, and directed the Christmas message to those citizens who celebrate that holiday.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
visited the Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Center
A Jewish Community Center or Jewish Community Centre is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities...
and offered remarks after the Hanukkah menorah was lit, and in 1984, on the eve of Hanukkah, he hosted a visit to the White House by a delegation of rabbis from the Orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
organization, "The American Friends of Lubavitch." The group later recounted that they were surprised that, when the time had come for them to depart, President Reagan invited them to remain a little longer, so that he could tell them a story about a rabbi serving as a Navy chaplain. He recounted the story of Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff
Arnold Resnicoff
Arnold E. Resnicoff is an American Conservative rabbi, a decorated retired military officer and military chaplain, and a consultant on leadership, values, and interreligious affairs to military and civilian leaders...
, whose kippa, skullcap, had to be discarded after the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing
1983 Beirut barracks bombing
The Beirut Barracks Bombing occurred during the Lebanese Civil War, when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces—members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon—killing 299 American and French servicemen...
, because it was covered in blood after being used to wipe the faces of wounded Marines, and so a Catholic chaplain, Fr. George Pucciarelli, tore a piece of his camouflage uniform off, to be used as a temporary replacement for the kippa. Reagan thanked the group in an official February 12, 1985, White House letter to Rabbi Abraham Shemtov
Abraham Shemtov
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov is a leading Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi who was one of the closest confidants of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson....
, the organization's national director, ending with the prayer: "May the light of the menorah always be a source of strength and inspiration to the Jewish people and to all mankind." Reagan also began to use the term Judeo-Christian heritage
Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian is a term used in the United States since the 1940s to refer to standards of ethics said to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, for example the Ten Commandments...
more and more during his presidency, and in a radio address on Dec 26, 1987, spoke of the link of both Hanukkah and Christmas "as two religious observances that go to the heart of America's Judeo-Christian heritage."
Later, President George H.W. Bush would "proudly display" the menorah he received as a gift from the Synagogue Council of America
Synagogue Council of America
The Synagogue Council of America was an organization of American Jewish synagogue associations, founded in 1926, including :*The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America *The Rabbinical Council of America...
(SCA), a group representing the major denominations and movements of American Judaism. He also attend a Hanukkah party for staff in the Executive Office Building, in 1991.
However, gifts aside, it was not until the administration of President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
that a president actually hosted a menorah-lighting ceremony in the White house. In 1993, he included a dozen or so school children for a ceremony in the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
. The event made the news because the ponytail on one of the girls, 6-year-old Ilana Kattan, briefly started smoking when it touched one of the flames from the candles -- but Clinton used his hands to "snuff out" the smoke. Clinton also joined Israeli president Ezer Weizman
Ezer Weizman
' was the seventh President of Israel, first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998. Before the presidency, Weizman was commander of the Israeli Air Force and Minister of Defense.-Biography:...
for a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony in Jerusalem, December 13, 1998.
Under Clinton, some Jewish leaders were among the guests at the White House Hanukkah menorah lightings. In 1996, during his administration, the first United States postage stamp honoring Hanukkah
Hanukkah stamps
The United States Postal Service issued a 32 cent stamp in 1996 as a joint issue with Israel. Hanukkah commemorates the revolt led by Judah Maccabee against the government of Antiochus IV in 165 BCE. This initial printing produced 103.5 million stamps and in 1997 there was a re-issue...
was issued, and was the first stamp to be a joint-issue between the United States and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
White House Hanukkah party, hosted by President George W. Bush
The first official White House Hanukkah party was held on December 10, 2001, under the leadership of President George W. Bush, using a 100-year-old Hanukkah menorah that the White House borrowed from the Jewish MuseumJewish Museum (New York)
The Jewish Museum of New York, an art museum and repository of cultural artifacts, is the leading Jewish museum in the United States. With over 26,000 objects, it contains the largest collection of art and Jewish culture outside of museums in Israel. The museum is housed at 1109 Fifth Avenue, in...
, in New York. Bush had hosted many annual Christmas parties, stressing the religious importance of that holiday, not merely referring to it as a "national holiday," but at the same time, began hosting a separate Hanukkah party for leaders of the Jewish community. He stressed that many presidents had participated in Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremonies, but that this occasion was the first time that the ceremony had been carried out as part of a larger official community celebration, reception, and observance of the holiday in the White House. Additionally, while previously, candles had been lit in the Oval Office, this was the first time in American history that the celebration would take place in the White House residence. He stated in his remarks that this residence, the White House, might be a "temporary home" for him and for his wife, Laura, but that "it's the people's house" -- and "it belongs to people of all faiths." He also noted that 2001 had been a year of "much sadness" for America and for Israel -- and that they had grieved together. "But as we watch the lighting of this second candle of Hanukkah, we are reminded of the ancient story of Israel's courage, and of the power of faith to make the darkness bright." He then went on to pray for a "better day" -- "when this Festival of Freedom may be celebrated in a world free from terror."
Bush continued the tradition of White House ceremonies and receptions for Hanukkah, expanding both the guest list and preparations for the event. For example, after an embarrassing incident in 2004 when non-kosher foods were mixed up with some special kosher foods that had been brought in for the occasion, the Hanukkah party in 2005 began the tradition of koshering the White House kitchen so that all foods served at the party would be kosher.
One Hanukkah activity involving the president's staff that might have been a "first" was OMB
OMB
OMB is a three-letter abbreviation which may stand for:* Office of Management and Budget, a group that oversees the activities of federal agencies in the United States* Owner Managed Business, small and medium enterprises...
director Josh Bolten's reading of two Hanukkah bed time stories over the White House website, as part of a special series of stories set up by First Lady Laura Bush. A number of other individuals, including Mrs. Bush herself, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and a number of cabinet members also took part in this program, with Bolten's selection to read Hanukkah stories presumably linked to his religious affiliation.
In 2007, President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
invited Ruth and Judea Pearl
Judea Pearl
Judea Pearl is a computer scientist and philosopher, best known for developing the probabilistic approach to artificial intelligence and the development of Bayesian networks ....
, parents of slain Wall Street
Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda.At the time of his kidnapping, Pearl served as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, and was based in Mumbai, India. He went to Pakistan as part of an investigation into the alleged links between...
to light the menorah that once
belonged to Daniel's great grandparents, Chaim and Rosa Pearl,
who brought it with them when they moved from Poland to Israel
in 1924 to establish the town of Bnai-Brak.
"While reporting in Pakistan in 2002," the president said,
"Daniel was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. His only crime
was being a Jewish American - something
Daniel Pearl would never deny.
In his final moment, Daniel told his captors about a street
in Israel named after his great grandfather. He looked into
their camera and he said: 'My father is Jewish, my mother is
Jewish, I am Jewish.' These words have become a source of
inspiration for Americans of all faiths. They show the courage
of a man who refused to bow before terror, and the strength of
a spirit that cannot be broken."
"By honoring Daniel" Bush said "we are given the opportunity
to bring forth hope from the darkness of tragedy - and that
is a miracle worth celebrating during the Festival of
Lights."
In 2008, Bush announced to the guests that he had cut short his farewell trip to Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure he was present for the final Hanukkah party during his administration. For the candle-lighting, he introduced Yariv Ben-Eliezer, grandson of David Ben-Gurion
David Ben-Gurion
' was the first Prime Minister of Israel.Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader and Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946...
, and Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Truman, to light the historic Hanukkah menorah that Ben-Gurion had presented to Truman in 1951. Bush linked the holiday and Israel in his remarks, explaining that:
"The story of Hanukkah recalls the miraculous victory of a small band of patriots against tyranny, and the oil that burned for eight nights. Through centuries of exile and persecution, Jews have lit the menorah. Each year, they behold its glow with faith in the power of God, and love for His greatest gift - freedom.
This Hanukkah we celebrate another miraculous victory - the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. When President Harry Truman led the world in recognizing Israel in May of 1948, many wondered whether the small nation could possibly survive. Yet from the first days of independence, the people of Israel defied dire predictions. With determination and hard work, they turned a rocky desert into fertile soil. They built a thriving democracy, a strong economy, and one of the mightiest military forces on earth. Like the Maccabees, Israel has defended itself bravely against enemies seeking its destruction. And today, Israel is a light unto the nations - and one of America's closest friends."
One small gaff that reached the press was the fact that the invitations to the Hanukkah party, sent to Jewish leaders throughout the United States, included the image of a horse-drawn cart pulling a Christmas tree to the White House. The White House staff quickly admitted it was a regrettable oversight, and apologized. Press secretary Sally McDonough
Sally McDonough
Sally McDonough is a Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications and Press Secretary to the First Lady during the Bush administration....
explained that it was a "staff mistake" to use the same image on all holiday reception invitations, and that First Lady Laura Bush "is apologetic." McDonough added that the invitations would be resent, using the image of the menorah Ben-Gurion presented to Harry Truman as the illustration for the new invitations.
White House Hanukkah Receptions hosted by President Barack Obama
2009Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
continued the tradition of a White House Hanukkah party established by his predecessors. However, favoring smaller and more intimate receptions, he invited fewer members of the Jewish community than had Bush, a decision which stirred up some controversy -- especially when invitees noted that the invitations made no specific mention of Hanukkah, instead inviting guests to a "holiday reception." But many leaders and pundits called criticism "chutzpah
Chutzpah
Chutzpah is the quality of audacity, for good or for bad, but it is generally used negatively. The Yiddish word derives from the Hebrew word , meaning "insolence", "audacity". The modern English usage of the word has taken on a broader meaning, having been popularized through vernacular use in...
" (audacity), with one article in the Huffington Post stating that, Obama ought to be applauded, not attacked, as he and his administration continue efforts to govern in a bipartisan and inclusive manner; this Hanukkah party is just one positive reflection of this encouraging trend.
For the 2009 Hanukkah party, the White House had made arrangements to use a sterling silver Hanukkah menorah on special loan from the Jewish Museum in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, at the request of the First Lady. She had toured Jewish historic sites in Prague in April, 2009, during her husband's official state visit. The menorah was crafted by Viennese
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
silversmith Cyril Schillberger, in 1783. Candles were lit by two young children of a Jewish soldier deployed in Iraq.
One "first" for President Obama was the fact that his 2009 Hanukkah message was issued in both English and Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
versions. The message recalls the Hanukkah story of Jews who fought for religious freedom against seemingly overwhelming odds, noting that the lesson for everyone is “that faith and perseverance are powerful forces that can sustain us in difficult times and help us overcome even the greatest odds.’’
Other members of President Obama's staff -- and other U.S. leaders at all levels of government -- continued to participate in official Hanukkah ceremonies in the tradition of previous administrations. For example, in 2009, White House Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
participated in the lighting of the menorah on the National Mall and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
took part in a menorah lighting ceremony in the U.S. Capitol.
2010
The 2010 White House Hanukkah Party was held on Thursday evening, December 2, and featured a Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiyah) salvaged from Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Israel (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Congregation Beth Israel is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located in Louisiana. Founded in 1903 or 1904, though tracing its roots back to 1857, it is the oldest Orthodox congregation in the New Orleans region...
in Lakeview, New Orleans
Lakeview, New Orleans
Lakeview is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Lakeview District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Robert E. Lee Boulevard to the north, Orleans Avenue to the east, Florida Boulevard, Canal Boulevard and I-610 to the south and...
, after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. The menu included kosher sushi and potato latkes, and the entertainment included a solo saxophone rendition of Ma'oz Tzur
Ma'oz Tzur
"Ma'oz Tzur" , is a Jewish liturgical poem or piyyut. It is written in Hebrew, and is sung on the holiday of Hanukkah, after lighting the festival lights. The name is a reference to the Hasmonean stronghold of Beth-zur. This Hebrew song is thought to have been written sometime in the 13th century...
" ("Rock of Ages"), by saxophonist Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...
, and other Hanukkah melodies performed by the United States Marine Band
United States Marine Band
The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States...
.
President Obama's remarks included his observation that the Hanukkah message of rededication is an important reminder to people of all faiths:
- in every corner of the world, Jews have lit the Hanukkah candles as symbols of resilience in times of peace, and in times of persecution – in concentration camps and ghettos; war zones and unfamiliar lands. Their light inspires us to hope beyond hope; to believe that miracles are possible even in the darkest of hours. It is this message of Hanukkah that speaks to us no matter what faith we practice or what beliefs we cherish…it invites all of us to rededicate ourselves to improving the lives of those around us, spreading the light of freedom and tolerance wherever oppression and prejudice exist.
Other White House Jewish events
Passover Seder
The Passover Seder is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evenings of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and on the 15th by traditionally observant Jews living outside Israel. This corresponds to late March or April in...
s to be held in the White House, originally organized by a handful of Jewish staffers in 2008, who were surprised when the president tracked them down and joined them -- but which has now become an annual event, attended by the Obama family, where the president's daughters even help recite the traditional four questions
Ma Nishtana
Ma Nishtana are the four questions sung during the Passover seder. Called "ma nishtanah" in Hebrew, meaning "What has changed?", it is taken from the first line of the song. In English, it is referred to as "The Four Questions". Traditionally, the Four Questions are asked by the youngest child at...
.
Additionally, on May 27, 2010, the Obamas hosted the first White House reception for Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month is an annual recognition and celebration of Jewish American achievements in and contributions to the United States of America. It is observed annually in the U.S. during the month of May....
(JAHM), an annual month-long recognition (during May) of the contributions of the Jewish community to American society. The commemoration of JAHM was begun by President George W. Bush, but without a special White House reception linked to its observance.
External links
- Video: Remarks by President Clinton on Hanukkah, Oval Office, 1997.
- Video: WH Hanukkah, 2001.
- Video: WH Hanukkah, 2002.
- Video: WH Hanukkah, 2003.
- Video: WH Hanukkah, 2005.
- Video: WH Hanukkah, 2006.
- 2009 Presidential Hanukkah message, Hebrew version; English version.
- Photo gallery of WH Hanukkah party.
- Hanukkah Menorah.
- Video: Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel addresses attendees at 2009 lighting of the National Menorah, on the National Mall.
- http://vodpod.com/watch/2757581-hanukkah-ceremony-near-white-house-2009?pod=Video: Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and two rabbis are positioned in a cherry pickerCherry pickerA cherry picker , is a type of aerial work platform that consists of a platform or bucket at the end of a hydraulic lifting system.- Design :...
to light three candles on the National Menorah on the third night of Hanukkah, on the National Mall.] - Video: 2007 National Menorah lighting ceremony, National Mall.
- White House Blog Page, with additional information from 2009 WH Hanukkah program, including remarks by President Obama, and photographs of children who lit candles, and menorah borrowed from Prague for the occasion.
- White House photo gallery of Presidents attending or hosting Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremonies, including Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
- Video and Text: President Obama's remarks, 2010 reception.