"8th Day" Sings Chanukah Medley at National Mall Menorah Lighting

On the first night of Chanukah this year on the Ellipse across from the White House, the National Menorah Orchestra and the “8th Day Band” performed a medley of popular Chanukah songs at the National Menorah Lighting in Washington D.C. 

The event was hosted by American Friends of Lubavitch.

Here's the video. Enjoy, and Happy Chanukah!

White House Hosts Candle Lighting Event on Fifth Night of Hanukkah

Last night the White House hosted a Hanukkah reception to light the fifth candle of the Hanukkiah, a menorah that was fashioned from a piece of timber from the building. 

The program started with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of New York's Central Synagogue setting the scene and thanking President Joe Biden for his support of Israel and the Jewish people during this stressful time.

The candles were lit by five Jewish White House staffers who are descendants of Holocaust survivors.

The president spoke about the warmth and kinship that he feels with the Jewish community. He reiterated what he said 35 years ago and was criticized then for his statement that "You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist." 

Enjoy, and Chag Chanukah sameach!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.  

White House Hosts Two Hanukkah Parties to Light the Fifth Candle

Yesterday President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted an afternoon and an evening Hanukkah party at the White House. All Jewish members of Congress were invited and the fifth candle was lit at each party, by a chaplain and by a Chabad rabbi.

The party included songs sung by the Y-Studs, the Yeshiva a cappella group whose songs we have posted here on Jewish Humor Central.

The president's remarks focused on our relationship with the State of Israel, recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and the swift opening of the new United States Embassy.

Welcoming Ivanka and Jared Kushner, he said "I'm also proud that the Jewish faith is so deeply woven into the fabric of my family. It's a great honor."

Each of the parties lasted more than an hour, and the full videos are available on YouTube. We'll include the links below so if you have the time you can watch both of them. If you're not inclined to spend so much time with them, here is a short version of one of the parties.

Happy Hanukkah and Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.



FULL VIDEO OF THE HANUKKAH PARTIES BELOW:

Chanukah Comes Early to the White House

Tonight Jews around the world will light the first Chanukah candle as the eight-day holiday begins.

A year ago we posted the Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony at the White House presided over by then President Barack Obama. 

This year Chanukah came early as President Donald Trump presided over a party to light the Chanukah menorah and celebrate the announcement a day earlier that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The White House Hanukkah Party is an annual reception hosted by the U.S. President and First Lady to recognize and celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The tradition was established in 2001, during the administration of President George W. Bush. 

At the White House party, attended by many friends and supporters of Israel, the candle lighting by President Trump's Jewish granddaughter Arabella Kushner was led by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, the Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York City, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.

He is the great nephew of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, the late leader of American Jewry who identified with what became known as Modern Orthodoxy. 

Because it was a few days before Chanukah, the blessing for lighting the candle was not said. Instead Rabbi Soloveichik said the first blessing, Shenatan michvodo l'basar vadam (Who bestows power and distinction upon flesh and blood), a blessing said when in the presence of a head of state. The second blessing was the Shehecheyanu.

The 7 minute version of the event appears below. You can see the full 21 minute version by clicking here.

We wish you a happy Chanukah from Jerusalem. Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Riverdale's Rabbi Steven Exler Speaks and Sings at White House Chanukah Reception

Yesterday The White House in Washington, D.C. was the location of two Chanukah receptions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. 

The afternoon reception featured Rabbi Steven Exler, Senior Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, who spoke, sang, and recited the three Chanukah blessings.

The White House Hanukkah Party is an annual reception hosted by the U.S. President and First Lady to recognize and celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The tradition was established in 2001, during the administration of George W. Bush. 

The guest list includes hundreds of American Jewish politicians, organization heads, and school and yeshiva deans. Last year one of the invited guests was our Los Angeles bureau chief, Esther Kustanowitz.

The White House released the video of the event. We hope you enjoy it.

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

In Jerusalem and Washington, Prime Minister and Presidents Celebrate Chanukah

The scenes were similar this week in Jerusalem and in Washington, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama presided over Chanukah Candle lighting ceremonies and special events to mark the occasion.

In Jerusalem, the prime minister lit the first Chanukah candle and delivered a stirring speech. He likened Israel being a candle in the darkness 2200 years ago when the Maccabees defeated the Seleucid Greeks to today's struggle against forces of darkness for our existence, independence, culture, and for all humanity.

At the White House in Washington, Israel's President Reuven Rivlin lit the fifth Chanukah candle on Wednesday evening as President Obama looked on. Before the lighting and singing of Chanukah songs, the two presidents delivered welcoming remarks to an invited audience of Jewish leaders including our Los Angeles bureau chief, Esther Kustanowitz.

For those of us who weren't invited, the video clip below provides a peek inside the White House and an insider's view of the celebration.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)