Image by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh November 28, 2021

Douglas Emhoff, the Jewish husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, marked the first night of Hanukkah at the annual lighting ceremony of the National Menorah on The Ellipse outside the White House on Sunday. Then he and Vice President Harris planned to light a hanukkiah in a window of their official residence.

“The story of Hanukkah is the history of a people who do not simply persevere in the face of tragedy, but ones who are committed to their faith, proud of their tradition, and grateful for the many miracles and blessings in our lives,” Emhoff said in brief remarks at the ceremony organized by Rabbi Levi Shemtov of American Friends of Lubavitch in Washington, D.C.

Douglas Emhoff, the Jewish husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, marked the first night of Hanukkah at the annual lighting ceremony of the National Menorah on The Ellipse outside the White House on Sunday. Image by Screenshot

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“As we light this menorah on the lawn of the free, let us rededicate ourselves to doing everything we can to shine a light on hate, so we can put an end to hate,” Emhoff added.

The Second Gentleman, who recently affixed a mezuzah to the doorpost of the vice president’s residence, will also celebrate the Jewish holiday with his wife at their home, a few miles from the White House.

From our family to yours, Happy Hanukkah. pic.twitter.com/yfCQfsE1uX

— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) November 29, 2021

“Like so many of us gathered here today, my family members left Europe in search of safety and security,” Emhoff told the crowd at the menorah lighting ceremony.

“They came to the United States, among the huddled masses, yearning to breathe free. They built a life here — raised children, opened businesses, worshipped at synagogues. And yet, we know, the freedom that my family members, that American Jews everywhere, have yearned for and championed, the freedom that our nation promises to all those who live and worship here, that freedom has, at times, been undermined by hate.”

Emhoff reiterated the vice president’s recent remarks on how the administration is “fully committed to fighting antisemitism” and “call it out wherever it exists.”

“The ancient Maccabees teach us that, in the face of the senseless, the selfless can prevail,” Emhoff said. “In the face of the powerful, the people can prevail. In the face of darkness, light can prevail.”

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount