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President George W. Bush watches as Daniella Wald, 12, lights one of the candles on the Menorah Wednesday, Dec 4 in the White House. President Bush presented one of the lighted candles to Daniella Wald, who lit the first three candles, and she presented the lighter candle to her sister, Alexandra Wald, 15, who lit the other three. Both of the girls are from Manhattan, and their father, Victor Wald, was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. White House photo by Paul Morse. Menorah Lighting

Fact Sheet Remarks by the President at Menorah Lighting
Fact Sheet Presidential Message: Hanukkah, 2002

Celebrating the holidays with light is a custom common to people of faith. Many Presidents have participated in lighting ceremonies marking Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights.

Last year was the first year a Hanukkah lamp (a menorah) was lit in the White House residence. President and Mrs. Bush commemorated the holiday by participating with members of their staff and some of their children in lighting the second candle on December 10, 2001. The 100-year-old lamp was borrowed from the collection of the Jewish Museum in New York.

"Tonight, for the first time in American history, the Hanukkah menorah will be lit at the White House residence," said President George W. Bush at the ceremony in which 8-year-old Talia Lefkowitz helped in lighting the menorah.

President Jimmy Carter walked to Lafayette Park in 1979 and lit one candle or shammash (the candle used to light other candles) in the 30-foot electric silver menorah.

President Ronald Reagan visited the Rockville Jewish Community Center in 1983 and gave remarks following the lighting of the menorah.

The Synagogue Council of America gave President George H.W. Bush a menorah, which was displayed at the White House in 1989. President Bush participated in a Hanukkah celebration for staff in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in 1991 and also celebrated with children and local Jewish leaders.

President William Clinton lit a menorah in the Oval Office in 1997 and joined Israel's President Ezer Weizman in lighting the first candle of Hanukkah in Jerusalem in 1998.

Past Menorah Lightings

"Tonight, for the first time in American history, the Hanukkah menorah will be lit at the White House residence," said President George W. Bush at the ceremony in which 8-year-old Talia Lefkowitz helps in lighting the menorah Dec. 10, 2001.
The President
President Clinton gives remarks at a Menorah Lighting Ceremony.
Clintons
President George H.W. Bush speaks to children at a Menorah Lighting Ceremony.
Bushes
President Reagan receives a menorah in the Oval Office from "Friends of Lubavitch" in 1986.
Reagans
President Jimmy Carter lights a menorah in 1979 in Lafayette Park, across the street from the North Portico of the White House.
Carters