THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good evening. Laura and I welcome you to the White House. Mr. Attorney General, thank you for being here. Secretary Chertoff, and family. Hanukkah is a time of joy and festivity in the Jewish religion. We’re honored to gather with members of the Jewish community to celebrate this holiday.
During Hanukkah, we remember an ancient struggle for freedom. More than two thousand years ago, a cruel tyrant ruled Judea — and forbade the Israelites from practicing their religion. A band of brothers came together to fight this oppression. And against incredible odds, they liberated the capital city of Jerusalem. As they set about rededicating the holy temple, they witnessed a great miracle: That purified oil that was supposed to last for one day burned for eight.
Jewish families commemorate this miracle by lighting the menorah for the eight nights of Hanukkah. The Talmud instructs families to place the menorah in public view — so the entire world can see its light. The flames remind us that light triumphs over darkness, faith conquers despair, and the desire for freedom burns inside every man, woman and child.
As we light the Hanukkah candles this year, we pray for those who still live under the shadow of tyranny. This afternoon, I met with a group of Jewish immigrants to mark International Human Rights Day. Many of these men and women fled from religious oppression in countries like Iran and Syria and the Soviet Union. They came to America because our nation is a beacon of freedom. And they see a day of hope on the horizon when people all across the world will worship in freedom. The forces of intolerance can suppress the menorah — but they can never extinguish its light.
The menorah we light tonight has special meaning. It once belonged to Chayim Pearl — who was the great-grandfather of Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl. While reporting in Pakistan in 2002, Daniel was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. His only crime was being a Jewish American — something Daniel Pearl would never deny. In his final moments, Daniel told his captors about a street in Israel named for his great-grandfather. He looked into their camera and he said, “My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, and I’m Jewish.” These words have become a source of inspiration for Americans of all faiths. They show the courage of a man who refused to bow before terror — and the strength of a spirit that could not be broken.
Daniel’s memory remains close to our hearts. Those who knew him best remember a gifted writer who loved the violin, and made friends wherever he went. We’re honored that Daniel’s parents — Ruth and Judea — have joined us today. We thank them for their work on behalf of the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The foundation helps bring people from different cultures together through journalism and music. It’s a fitting tribute to Daniel’s lifelong pursuit of truth and tolerance. By honoring Daniel, we are given the opportunity to bring forth hope from the darkness of tragedy — and that is a miracle worth celebrating during the Festival of Lights.
Laura and I wish people of Jewish faith around the world a happy Hanukkah. May God bless you all. Tonight, we will hear a wonderful performance by the Zamir Chorale. But first I ask Ruth and Judea to light the Pearl family menorah, and lead the blessings.
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16 Responses
Say what you want about this man…I think he is without a doubt one of… if not the most decent man to ever occupy the White House…a good friend to the Jewish people and to Israel!!
B”H we have such a good president who respects religion and recognizes the evil madmen of the world. He seems not to have a political agenda, and obviously doesn’t care about approval ratings as much as he cares to do what he thinks is right. It’s unfortunate that it seems the current canidates for president seem more caught up in their political careers than they are in being a good leader for their country.
I’ve had the distinct honor to meet President Bush this year. It seems as though his compass always points to a brighter future for this country.
I’m quite impressed with republican candidate Mike Huckabee. Mike “Huck”s stance on Israel and fighting terrorists looks real strong. He is a former minister. That concerned me at first. But I see he goes against the tide of his contempories on a bunch of issues. His conservative values have been lifelong (no flip-flopping between issues). Given the pool of candidates, he seems most inline with tradional Jewish values, like ours. While the former minister thing raises eye brows especially among liberals and non-affiliated, keep in mind, this nation was started by men of strong faith. I will ask Gedolai Yisroel what their thoughts are on this specific topic.
Govenor Huckabees domestic plan raises America up, like education reform in schools, strong family values, health prevention initiatives instead of health care. He’s a huge proponent of the “Fair Tax” initiative which overhauls all aspects of federal taxation, and allows us to keep our taxes, taxing only consumption. This is being discussed in feasability studies by leading economists throughout the country. Obviously, the government is against it.
I’ve been studying this guy for about two years, and he seem like he walks the talk. Side note. . . he actually lost 100lbs. and now runs marathons.
Heaven help us all.
ALJ,
Why not share with us what the occasion was that gave you the opportunity to meet the President.
Was it for a chit-chat in the Oval Office or perhaps one of several hundred guests at a fund raiser?
“ALJ”
I’m gonna play devils advocat here ( not that I dont like Mike)
what about those letters he had written to jaled inmates, saying that they deserve to be freed etc etc ……….look into it also regarding clemency etc etc bla bla bla
Pres. Bush is a great president and did good things for our people. We however must all keep in mind that all rulers are at the end controlled by Melech Malchai Hamelachim and we have to daven to Him that He should continue to send us kind rulers.
#6 Yes, leiv sarim umelachim beYad Hashem, but as human beings, they have bechirah. In other words, while Hashem’s Plan will be executed regardless, the President, as anyone else, has personal bechirah in his attitude towards Hashem, religion, and moral issues.
President Bush, on a personal level, is one of the most morally steadfast Presidents the US has ever had.
Hey, do I like everything Bush has done? NO
Do I think Gore would have done better? Oh, my G-d NO WAY.
Bush is a well intended, sane man trying to do the best job possible.
But the job of President today is NOT POSSIBLE for any one man to do without incurring the hatred of the people.
He is torn with so many conflicting needs for the country, that I do not understand how he is maintaining his sanity.
1. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THE ARAB OIL at this time, and can’t simply tick them off entirely. He must walk a thin line between other needs,and the need to maintain business dealings with them for oil. Until we develop alternative energies, we MUST placate them to some extent. To what extent? Hmmm that is a good question.
2. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO WIN THE “WAR ON TERRORISM” …. We all agree on this one, and hate Bush every time he is not acting strong enough, but he needs to somehow, magically do this with the above point in mind.
3. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO STOP THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION especially to lunatics like ACHmenijad and Korea. But, how do we do this without starting a new ware much bigger than the one we are already in, and how do we do this without ticking off the Arab Oil countries.
4. The SOVIETS ARE BACK and waving sabers. They are an unknown card and may side with Iran.
5. Bush has to somehow do all this with the US political arena against him. The Democrats are doing their job very well. What is their job? To humiliate the Republican president, which helps elect a Democrat next election. They are doing all they can to hurt our president, no matter how much it hurts the country. They are short-term-gold oriented: First put their man in the white house, then try to repair the damage to the country by their tactics. That is the only thing they CAN do, as if they lose, they are out. Winning is first.
6. Bush has to please the atheists without trashing the G-d he believes in.
7. Bush has to try his best to defend Israel, even when IT MAY NOT BE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE USA! Can we maybe see that siding with the Arabs and selling out on the US support to Israel, would be much better for the US? Maybe not for Israel, but for the US. Supporting the Arab countries and allowing Israel to fall, would mean cheaper gasoline, a big boost to our economy, etc.,
I used to always say that I wanted to be president. But, to be honest, I believe the man in the White House today is doing as good a job as any honest man can do. You want a more efficient presidency, you need a more dishonest president. Maybe a president who lies to us, and/or who stab our allies in the back and do not keep treaties.
George W Bush, in my opinion is doing as good a job as anyone considering what he is going through..Did he make mistake, yes.
I knew a men who is a Democrat who served in the Texas House of Rep, or whatever they call it. His opinion of Bush is that is was the best governor the state of Texas ever had. Although he was in the opposition party, he always found Bush to keep his word, and be as honest as possible, while respectfully listening and “really paying attention” to both sides of every issue, then voting “his conscience” not what was politically correct.
I no longer want the job. He could have it. ANd, yes, though I am not impressed by politicians lighting menorahs, or such silliness, here is a man who is doing this with full good intentions.
Casually forget to mention that the jews who went to the white house were chabad shluchim.
Thats because they were not Sheluchim.
See. That’s exactly how lubavitch tries to hijack everything.
I was there last night.
So was nachum Segal (radio DJ). Is he a chabad shliach? Am I?
Puleeze.
Stop while you are ahead.
Oh by the way…..when the Whitehouse kashed their kitchen to host rabbonim – they used a mashgiach from SKVER not lubavitch.
OUCH.
shmendrik,
Where did you get your “invitation” to the WH from?
when the Whitehouse kashed their kitchen to host rabbonim – they used a mashgiach from SKVER not lubavitch.
That is most likely do to the fact that President Bush is machmir on “Chasidishe Shechita”.
#10 Shmendrik.
I dont know where you were last night, but I was there, and I was there last year as well. Its obvious that this was pulled off by a group called “FOL” aka friends of Lubvitch. If it was not obvious to you, you were not there. And by the way, I saw on some booklet that I picked up there that lubobs lit menorah with the Gov’s, Sen’s or congressmen at the State house of 35 States as well as at 5 major sporting events (Islanders, Trailblazers etc..)
I wonder where all those “holier than thou” people are that are always hocking about lubavitch chilul hashems, are??
Please tell me what the kiddush hashem is that lubavitch lit a menorah together with arnold schwartzenigger – one of the biggest womanizers, and lowlives of our generation!
Thanks.
So we have 3 people on this YW thread alone claiming to have been at the White House and met the President. 2 last night and one earlier this year.
I sure never realized what power users hung out on YW until now!
Shmendrik,
I do not want to be “the Lubob defender” on this show, but I have already proven (if yw editor lets my last comment through) that you are full of baloney, since I found a picture of the actual kashrus certificate from last night and it says Lubab hashgacha on it…. mimah nifshach, either you saw the hashgacha and are not being truthful, or you did not see the hashgacha, so vee kumt das that you ate there?
But now onto oither things, as a travler (even on Chanukah, unfortenatly) I have been to many public lightings that chabad does. Mi shlo ra’ah, the face of a fray yid beeming with pride at the one of these lightings, does not know the potential that we are missing but not doing these events ourselves. I am not saying one must do it, but kol zman its not an averia, this is something we should grab onto, since it brings people closer. Buduk umenusa, ask any lubabitcher…
last point, how much more of a greater effect if its dont by a famous person?? What makes you think that Bush (who I support) is less of a oisvarf?? Yet, you had no problem with him being involved….