‘Capacity for faith is light of the Jewish people’: Biden marks start of Hanukkah
President cites quote from former UK chief rabbi Sacks that a people who can ‘walk through a valley of shadow of death’ and still can rejoice cannot be defeated by force or fear
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US President Joe Biden marked the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Wednesday with a quote from former British chief rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks in a post to his official account on social media platform X.
“Rabbi Sacks said: A people that can walk through a valley of shadow of death and still rejoice is a people that cannot be defeated by any force or fear,” he writes.
“That capacity for faith is the light of the Jewish people. As Hanukkah begins, may it shine from menorahs around the world,” he added.
Hanukkah, which this year began on the same day as Christmas, comes as Israel is still fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in a war that started on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian terror group led a massive attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
Last week Biden hosted his final White House Hanukkah party as president.
He used the occasion to declare his determination, even during his last weeks in office, to keep working for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip who were abducted from Israel during the Hamas assault.
“I’ve gotten over 100 hostages out. I will not stop until I get every single one of them home,” Biden said to cheers from hundreds in the audience.
Biden reiterated his belief that you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist.
“And I’m a Zionist,” he said to applause.
" I'm a Zionist, and so i learned a long time ago, you don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist."
Joe BidenAt the White House Hanukkah reception.
2024 pic.twitter.com/DualOA0Sdb— Dyor (@Powerfulmindx) December 20, 2024
Speaking before Biden was Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who has led the administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism.
“Tonight, I am rededicating myself to fighting antisemitism and hatred of all kinds,” Emhoff said, pledging to continue his efforts after the administration’s term ends in less than a month.
On the menu at the Hanukkah party were latkes, pareve sour cream and thin cuts of beef tenderloin, along with jelly- and chocolate-filled donuts.
The Times of Israel Community.