Washington – With Chanukah less than a month away, the White House has issued a call to the public, hoping to find a menorah of special significance to be lit at the annual candle lighting ceremony.
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Over past three years, President Obama and the First Lady have cast the spotlight on unique menorahs during the yearly White House Chanukah celebration.
In 2012, the White House hosted a 90 year old menorah from Temple Israel in Long Beach, which had sustained serious damage during Hurricane Sandy, described as a symbol of resilience and optimism. In 2013, two menorahs were lit at the presidential holiday gathering, one from a synagogue in Prague that had been destroyed during the Holocaust and another whose arms were miniature replicas of the Statue of Liberty. A pair of menorahs were also lit in the White House last year, one created by students of the Hand in Hand Bilingual School in Jerusalem, whose student body includes both Arab and Israeli students, and the other crafted by children from the Ethiopian Jewish community of Yemin Orde.
The White House released a statement this week announcing their quest for a distinctive menorah to be used in this year’s Chanukah gala and has invited the public to submit descriptions of distinctive menorahs.
“We’re looking for a special and unique menorah that tells a story to be part of our candle lighting ceremony. A story about family, about community, about the long Jewish cultural tradition in the United States, Israel, or around the world.”
Menorahs of interest will be featured on the White House website, which will also share the story behind each one, with one or two to be chosen to be lit in the White House on Chanukah.
The White House noted that it will not cover any shipping or expenses associated with getting the chosen menorah or menorahs to the White House, and that they cannot guarantee that the owner or owners will be invited to take part in the annual reception.
All submissions must be made at https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/05/whats-story-behind-your-menorah by November 20th.
Oh he is looking for a menorah?…thank you Mr President….we don’t need patronizing gestures…Thank you…
What about the menorah Johnathan Pollard used or better yet a menorah of one of the israelis that were killed by arab terrorists in Israel recently
Don’t strain yourself with your phony pc gestures meant to cover your anti semitism, despicable pig.
Take the big one from front of the kenneset, they don’t need it.