US Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, hosted its Hanukkah party on Sunday December 18th the first night of Hanukkah, Approximately 300 guests attended for what’s believed to be the first official Hanukkah gathering at the Vice President’s official residence in Washington D.C.
At the reception also attended esteemed guests, Jewish Leaders, Jewish Elected Officials, Holocaust survivors, and Community Activists, a Holocaust survivor led the first Bracha at lighting the Menorah. The Menorah came from the Jewish Museum in NY, made in Eastern Europe around the late 19th century.
The crowd enjoyed glatt kosher food under the strict rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Chabad of Washington DC. Also the crowd watched the performance of Klezmer music at the Vice President’s Residence.
The vice president introduced her husband, who spoke about his own Hanukkah traditions and helped light the menorah. The Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff spoke about the recent rise in antisemitism and White House efforts fighting antisemitism, including a meeting he hosted earlier this month with Jewish community leaders. “Anyone who is not speaking up and speaking out, and not taking action, needs to be called out,” said Emhoff. He also said that it’s the first time in history a Black Woman and a Jewish Man lighting the Menorah in Vice President’s Residence, the Menorah is at the window, along with two Mezuzahs hanging on the door of VP Residence entrance.
Harris and Emhoff, took photos with all the guests in an official receiving line, After the speeches, The guests enjoyed glatt kosher food and several flavors of jelly doughnuts that rivaled Israeli sufganiyot, under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Chabad of Washington DC. Also a three-piece Klezmer Band performed throughout the night. All guests left with a party favor, a blue velvet bag with the vice presidential seal that held a dreidel that read “Happy Hanukkah 2022.”
Among the notable guest seen at the parties were US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Judge Rachel (Ruchie) Freier the First Hasidic Female Judge and the First Hasidic Woman elected to Public Office in the United States, Anne Neuberger the first Orthodox Woman NSA Director and Deputy Assistant to the President, Adam Lehman President of Hillel International, Paula Eiselt Film Director & Producer of 93Queen, Seth Riklin President of B’nai B’rith International, and more esteemed guest.
On Sunday night VP posted a photo to Twitter of them lighting the Menorah along with a message, “Hanukkah is a special time in our home. As we join millions worldwide in celebrating miracles, we remember that light will always triumph over darkness,” they wrote. “From our family to yours, happy Hanukkah.”