Trump to continue Chanukah party tradition at the White House

Invitations have been sent out for this year’s Chanukah party at the White House, hosted by the President and First Lady.

By: Adina Katz, World Israel News

“Trump White House Hanukkah party invites have gone out for dec. 7,” New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted on Monday.

No further details were provided.

Aside from political and advocacy movements, the religious denominations included in the president’s pre-Rosh Hashana conference call in September notably included only orthodox groups. Leaders of the non-orthodox denominations – furious at Trump for blaming the “many sides” for the deadly rampage in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August – had said they would refuse to participate in a Rosh Hashana call with the president.

The tradition to hold a White House Chanukah party was established in 2001, during the administration of George W. Bush. The guests typically include leaders of US Jewish organizations, Jewish members of the administration and Congress and other prominent American Jews.

Chanukah, an eight-day holiday, commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks who ruled much of the Land of Israel, banned the Jewish religion on pain of death, and defiled the Holy Temple.

Chanukah