A Tale of Two Hanukkahs: Joe Biden and Speaker Mike Johnson’s Celebrations

This week on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted a bipartisan pre-Hanukkah celebration. Rabbi Levi Shemtov pointed out that lighting the menorah at such an event serves merely as a symbolic act — the genuine blessings are intended for the actual celebration.

This observation drew a knowing chuckle from those present, especially since the night before at the White House, there was no similar hesitation.

During that occasion, President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff lit the menorah while the attendees recited all the traditional blessings, despite Hanukkah not commencing until next week.

This was not simply a minor error but rather an affront to devout Jews.

Rabbi Baruch Davidson of Chabad explains, “Our caution is based on the understanding of the third of the Ten Commandments, ‘You shall not take His name in vain.’ While this verse is typically interpreted as referring to an unnecessary oath invoking G‑d’s name, the avoidance of saying G‑d’s name extends to all expressions, except in prayer and Torah study.”

By reciting the actual prayer and mentioning G-d’s name before Hanukkah, the White House inadvertently offended observant Jews while demonstrating a lack of the “sensitivity” and consideration that the left typically extends to other groups.

Though a relatively minor infraction, it exemplifies how Democrats have treated the Jewish community: as mere props for photo opportunities, tossed aside as soon as the cameras stop rolling.

Last Hanukkah was no different.

After the horrific Oct. 7 attacks, the White House welcomed 800 prominent Jewish community members to celebrate the holiday by lighting a menorah salvaged from the border kibbutz of Kfar Aza, one of the most devastated areas on that tragic day.

President Biden was keen to showcase a Jewish artifact from Kfar Aza, yet no actual representatives from that community, or others in Israel affected by the attacks, were present.

Later, CNN reported that “several family members of U.S. citizens believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas had requested to attend a Hanukkah reception at the White House Monday night but did not receive invitations.”

One family member who spoke to CNN, Ruby Chen, whose son Itay was taken hostage on 10/7, confirmed that her family did not receive an invitation this year either.

An individual discussing the decision with White House staff was informed that inviting those families would be seen as “too political.”

When comparing those Hanukkah celebrations to the one I attended organized by Speaker Johnson, it becomes clear why many religious Jews are shifting their support to the Republican side.

After the election, the Republican Jewish Coalition reported that Donald Trump gained significant support among religious Jews, with nearly half of New York’s Jewish community voting for him.

The disparity between the two Hanukkah events highlights this trend: Democrats feature token Jewish figures like Emhoff, who appeared unfamiliar with the holiday’s melodies and prayers.

(Last year, he completely misrepresented the story of Hanukkah, tweeting that it involved Jews “forced into hiding” who “no one thought would survive.”)

His wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, who pretended to support Israel during her campaign (even as she frequently criticized the Jewish state’s self-defense efforts), did not even attend the celebration.

(This is typical behavior: she also boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress this year.)

To exacerbate the situation, Emhoff had the audacity to commend the Biden administration’s ineffective handling of antisemitism, even as a new House report revealed the administration’s complete failure to address it post-Oct. 7.

Conversely, Johnson ensured a qualified rabbi led the ceremony, maintaining its respect and dignity.

Memo to Democrats: Religious Jews are paying attention.

We recognize who our allies are and who is merely seeking to exploit us.

We cast our votes accordingly in November, and if the current trends continue, expect an even stronger shift of religious Jewish voters towards the Republican party.

Bethany Mandel is the co-author of “Stolen Youth” and a homeschooling mother of six based in greater Washington, DC.