Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the 2nd century BCE. The Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire, who had desecrated the Temple and oppressed the Jewish people, led to a Jewish victory. Upon reclaiming the Temple, the Jews found only enough consecrated oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, hence the eight-day celebration. Hanukkah is observed by lighting candles on a menorah each night, along with prayers, traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot, and playing dreidel.
In 1951, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion gifted a Hanukkah menorah to United States President Harry Truman.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter participated in the inaugural public Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony of the National Menorah on the White House lawn.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush showcased a menorah in the White House.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton hosted a small Hanukkah ceremony in the Oval Office with a group of schoolchildren.
In 1996, the United States Postal Service (USPS) released a 32 cent Hanukkah stamp in collaboration with Israel.
In 2004, the USPS introduced a dreidel design for the Hanukkah stamp, replacing the menorah design after eight years.
In 2008, President George W. Bush held an official Hanukkah reception in the White House, referencing the 1951 menorah gift for the ceremony.
In 2009, a Hanukkah stamp featuring a photograph of a menorah with nine lit candles was issued.
In 2013, on November 28th, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coincided, a rare occurrence dubbed "Thanksgivukkah".
In December 2014, two Hanukkah celebrations took place at the White House, featuring a menorah made by students from Israel and a message of hope and resilience from President Obama.
In December 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and other leaders came together at Carnegie Hall to celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, promoting unity against racism and antisemitism.
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