Biden is internet hosting a Hanukkah ceremony on the White House as fears mount about rising antisemitism
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is internet hosting a White House reception Monday night to mark Hanukkah, celebrating the competition of lights as he has continued to denounce rising antisemitism within the U.S. and overseas amid the Israel-Hamas struggle.
The president, first girl Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will attend the occasion with practically 800 company. Invitees embrace Holocaust survivors, members of Congress, state and native officers, entertainers, and leaders from throughout the Jewish non secular denominations, the White House says.
A menorah is lit nightly in the course of the eight-day Jewish competition, which this 12 months is being celebrated from Dec. 7 till Friday.
The White House reception will likely be led by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi at Central Synagogue in New York City, and have menorah lighting by Emhoff and White House workers which are descendants of Holocaust survivors.
Biden plans to speak about how Hanukkah is a timeless story of miracles, and that – even in darkish instances – we will discover the sunshine, the White House says.
The Biden administration in May introduced what it known as the first-ever nationwide technique to counter antisemitism. That laid out greater than 100 actions, together with a collection of steps to lift consciousness and understanding of antisemitism and the risk it poses across the U.S.
Still, antisemitism has solely intensified in some quarters because the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas and different militants sparked Israel’s ongoing struggle in Gaza, which faces heightened criticism for the mounting Palestinian loss of life toll. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and urged its members to demand a right away humanitarian cease-fire.
The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, Emhoff is the primary Jewish particular person to be the partner of one of many nation’s nationally elected leaders. Last week, he presided over the lighting ceremony of a large menorah in entrance of the White House to mark Hanukkah’s first evening, saying then that American Jews are “feeling alone” and “in pain.”
The White House supported a since-expired, non permanent pause within the combating as Hamas launched among the hostages it held in Gaza, and is pushing for an additional truce – however the combating continues within the meantime.
On Saturday, Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, resigned amid strain from donors and criticism over testimony at a congressional listening to the place she was unable to say beneath repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the college’s conduct coverage.
Universities throughout the U.S. have been accused of failing to guard Jewish college students amid rising fears of antisemitism worldwide and fallout from the struggle in Gaza.
