TEL AVIV – President Obama’s official Hanukkah statement released by the White House Tuesday contains unusually activist language compared to his previous annual statements for the Jewish festival.
Also, unmentioned in this year’s official statement is the Jewish Temple, which is central to the Hanukkah story. Aside from his 2009 statement, all other previous White House Hanukkah statements referenced the Temple, which was rededicated on the Jewish holiday.
This year, Obama declared, “May this Hanukkah embolden us to do what is right, shine a light on the miracles we enjoy, and kindle in all of us the desire to share those miracles with others.”
Obama said the "courage of the Maccabees reminds us that we too can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds."
"The candles of the Menorah remind us that even the smallest light has the power to shine through the darkness. And the miracle at the heart of Hanukkah – the oil that lasted for eight nights instead of only one – reminds us that even when the future is uncertain, our best days are yet to come,” he said.
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Obama said that over the "eight nights of Hanukkah, Jews across America, Israel, and the world will remember an ancient triumph of freedom over oppression, and renew their faith in the possibility of miracles large and small.”
Obama’s call this year for Hanukkah to “embolden us to do what is right” comes as the president has been criticized for bypassing Congress with executive orders, interagency directives and memoranda setting policy agendas on such issues as immigration reform and environmental activism.
His reminder this year of “ancient triumph of freedom over oppression” is issued at a time when the U.S. is reportedly undecided on a French initiative to impose a binding two-year timeline at the United Nations Security Council for creating a Palestinian state.
Obama’s 2013 message, unlike in previous years, did reference the goal of “secure[ing] the blessing of freedom,” but it did not contain the word “oppression,” a key word in the Palestinian mantra of accusations against Israel.
A 2010 speech by Obama at a Hanukkah reception used the word “oppression,” stating there is “hope for the future – the men, women and children of all faiths who still suffer under tyranny and oppression.”
Meanwhile, this year’s activist language of “embolden[ing] us to do what is right” and overcoming “seemingly insurmountable odds” was a departure from all other previous White House statement released annually on Hanukkah, most of which contained nearly identical language.
The crux of the 2013 Hanukkah message called for “joining members of the Jewish community in America, in the State of Israel, and around the world as we work together to build a future that is bright and full of hope.”
The 2012 message contained similar phraseology to the statement from the year before.
“This holiday season, let us give thanks for the blessings we enjoy, and remain mindful of those who are suffering. And let us reaffirm our commitment to building a better, more complete world for all,” the 2012 message read.
Obama’s 2011 message similarly read: “And tonight, as families and friends come together to light the menorah, it is a story that reminds us to count our blessings, to honor the sacrifices of our ancestors, and to believe that through faith and determination, we can work together to build a brighter, better world for generations to come.”
In 2010 there was no official statement. Instead, Obama delivered in-person remarks at a Hanukkah reception, which included language referenced in other White House Hanukkah messages: “That’s why families everywhere are taught to place the menorah in public view, so the entire world can see its light."
The 2009 statement was similar, reading: “As families, friends and neighbors gather together to kindle the lights, may Hanukkah's lessons inspire us all to give thanks for the blessings we enjoy, to find light in times of darkness, and to work together for a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow.”
With additional research by Joshua Klein.