History of Hanukkah in Timeline
Hanukkah, a Jewish festival, celebrates the reclaiming of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple. This historical event marked the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
1938: Joseph Klausner's Contribution to Hanukkah Literature
Joseph Klausner contributed to Hanukkah literature in 1938, as noted in Haim Harari's Sefer Hanukkah.
1951: First Hanukkah Menorah Gifted to the White House
In 1951, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion presented a Hanukkah menorah as a gift to US President Harry Truman, marking the earliest link between Hanukkah and the White House.
1979: First Public Hanukkah Candle-Lighting at the White House
President Jimmy Carter held the first public Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony at the National Menorah on the White House lawn in 1979.
1989: President George H. W. Bush Displays Menorah
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush continued the tradition by displaying a menorah in the White House.
1993: President Clinton's Hanukkah Ceremony with Schoolchildren
President Bill Clinton hosted a small Hanukkah ceremony in the Oval Office with a group of schoolchildren in 1993.
1996: First Hanukkah Stamp Issued Jointly by US and Israel
The United States Postal Service (USPS), in collaboration with Israel, released a 32-cent Hanukkah stamp in 1996.
2004: USPS Introduces Dreidel Design for Hanukkah Stamp
After eight years of using the menorah design, the USPS introduced a new design featuring a dreidel for the Hanukkah stamp in 2004.
2008: President Bush's Hanukkah Reception and Menorah Lighting
In 2008, President George W. Bush hosted a Hanukkah reception at the White House, using the menorah gifted in 1951 by Ben-Gurion for the ceremony and inviting the grandsons of Ben-Gurion and Truman to light the candles.
2009: Hanukkah Stamp Features Photograph of Lit Menorah
The USPS released a Hanukkah stamp featuring a photograph of a menorah with nine lit candles in 2009.
2013: Rare Convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah Creates "Thanksgivukkah"
In 2013, the convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah for the third time since Thanksgiving's national recognition led to the creation of the term "Thanksgivukkah". This rare occurrence, attributed to the misalignment of the Gregorian and Jewish calendars, is not expected to happen again in the foreseeable future.
December 2014: President Obama Hosts Hanukkah Celebration with Students from Israel
In December 2014, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a Hanukkah celebration for over 500 guests, including students from the Max Rayne school in Israel, which had been targeted by arson.
December 2022: Joint Hanukkah and Kwanzaa Celebration Promotes Unity
In December 2022, a celebration of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa took place at Carnegie Hall, bringing together prominent figures like Mayor Eric Adams, Al Sharpton, and others to address racism and antisemitism.