Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated in late November or early December that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and is celebrated with the lighting of a special nine-branched menorah. Although Hanukkah has traditionally been celebrated in the home, presidents have also become involved in honoring its significance through public ceremonies and remarks.
The first president to officially recognize and celebrate Hanukkah was Jimmy Carter, during his presidency from 1977 to 1981. In 1979, President Carter lit the National Menorah on the White House lawn; this event was the first annual of the Chabad’s National Menorah Lighting Ceremony, which has taken place every year since then. As part of his Hanukkah celebration that year, Carter issued a proclamation formally recognizing the holiday. He noted that, “national recognition of Hanukkah will help all Americans of different religious traditions to clearly perceive a shared commitment to spiritual values — values that go to the core of the American identity — family life, resistence against persecution and oppression, loyalty and faithfulness to God, and dedication to freedom.”President Carter didn’t stop there — he also donated a nine-branched candelabra, known as a menorah, to the White House. Ever since then, every year, the White House lit its menorah to mark the beginning of Hanukkah. Along with lighting the menorah, the White House has also regularly held ceremonies and receptions to celebrate Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays.
Carter was not the first president to recognize the significance of Hanukkah, however. Ever since the early 1970s, presidents have released statements commemorating the holiday and its meaning. President George H. W. Bush, for instance, noted that Hanukkah was a reminder of Jewish beliefs in “the coming of the Messiah and reign of undimmed justice, peace and compassion” and that it was “an occasion to celebrate the goodness of life.”
Since President Carter’s proclamation and White House lighting of the first menorah almost four decades ago, many of his successors have toed the same line. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have all lit Hanukkah menorahs during their presidencies, continuing the tradition started by Jimmy Carter. Every year, these respective presidents issued strong statements about the religious seasons celebrating the holiday and its significance. Through their public displays of recognition, these presidents have shown that Hanukkah, which has been celebrated for millennia, will continue to be honored for years to come.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.