DJOP was honored to be invited to the White House Chanukkah Party. The Bidens lit the Menorah which is the first ever White House Menorah. The Menorah was created in the White House Carpentry Shop out of wood removed from the building during a Truman era renovation of the White House. The Menorah was added to the White House Archives and is its only Jewish Artifact.
DJOP saw many of our Democratic Jewish Friends at the White House party including Steve Sheffey and Dana Gordon of Politics with Dana and Steve, Halie Soifer CEO of Jewish Democratic Council of America, Chef Michael Solomonov and his wife, Noah Arbit of the Michigan Jewish Democrats and now the youngest member of the Michigan State House at 27 years old! Of course, there were many elected officials including Representative Kathy Manning, Senator Jacky Rosen and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
President Biden’s words at the party were inspiring. He said:
“…Talmud teaches us we cannot rely on or expect miracles; we have to earn them. Earn them. We know that task is not easy. No one knows better than this audience.
This year’s Hanukkah arrival — arrives in the midst of rising emboldenment of antisemitism at home and, quite frankly, around the world.
I recognize your fear, your hurt, your worry that this vile and venom is becoming too normal.
As your President, I want to make this clear — as my dad would say, and many of you have said: Silence is complicity. We must not remain silent.”
The infectious joy of President Biden and the First Lady inspired Dana Gordon to lead those leaving the White House in a hora as the Marine Band played. It was an evening to celebrate our faith and the accomplishments of the Jewish Democratic community and be inspired to continue to carry our light forward. DJOP was honored to be a part of this wonderful evening.