Dreaming of a White House Hanukkah
President Bush’s national approval ratings may have hit rock bottom, but it’s safe to say he has a fan in 14-year-old Ariel Cohen.
Ariel was tapped to light the menorah at this year’s Hanukkah party, held Monday, on the fourth night of the holiday. She was picked for the gig after meeting Laura Bush when the first lady visited the Washington Children’s Hospital last year. At the time, Ariel was recovering from a pediatric stroke. The young girl asked if she could have a Hanukkah party at the White House and Bush reportedly said yes, if she worked hard on her recovery.
She was joined by her 11-year-old sister Alison and her parents, Dan and Rachel.
After the ceremony, President Bush praised Ariel, saying, “she did a wonderful job of saying the Hanukkah blessing and lighting the candles.”