The Mitzvah of lighting Chanuka candles is only in one's home and in the synagogue. The rabbis never gave any credence to lighting Chanuka lights in an outdoor public place, and certainly not among the Gentiles. Public lightings of Chanuka candles of this sort are not based on Jewish sources nor do they reflect authentic Jewish ideals. These sorts of lightings come under the category of "Unacceptable Publicity Stunts".

what is this ? maybe you want MOON PEOPLE SEE THE LIGHT ?

some of the candles to a future Palestinian state.

Why are there so many candles lit? Last night was the 3rd night yet there are 4 candles lit

He light the hanukia on a gloomy day. Hmmm. His hanukia does not give us the light we need. We are disturbed, disappointed by his "light".

I wonder whether Rahm knows Hebrew. If he does, did he sing a new version of Maoz Zur that is in line with his politics?

y the president didn't partisipate himself after all this was right infront of the white house, he like to send others to do his job, Ram isn't religious and couldn't care less, so big deal he lighted a candle but it's not obama.

The WH shouldn't be hosting these Hanukkah parties at all. Let the Jews conduct their own Hanukkah parties elsewhere and at their own expense.

How strange they can light chanukiahs in the white house yet the charideem ban christmas trees in Jerusalem hotels which serve Christian toursists, as usual hypocracy rules. Just imagine the screams of anti-semitism is they banned Chanuchias in the US

I don't know if you're a free agent...but you're certainly a bigot. Just because there are some Jews who may criticize the candle-lighting doesn't mean ALL Jews feel that way. And what if some disaffected Christians were to criticize Obama for having a Christmas tree at the White House because they think he's really a Muslim? Would that mean the Christmas celebration at the White House should be done away with, and that Christians should celebrate elsewhere and pay for it themselves?

Maybe because hotels are privately owned.

be free of religious generalizations which can only be racist as to generalize an entire group of 14 million people as never satisified can only be racist, therefore you are not free nor a free agent. You are confined in a world of hatred.

Reuven, what are you talking about? Chanuka candles are lit in the streets everywhere, the white house didn't invent anything new. On the other hand I agree with you and the the second poster. We should really leave this sort of extravagant displays to Christmas trees and what not, and settle for a menorah in each home.

ban christmas trees, and trust me chritians doesn't care about trees when they come to jerusalem they come to the holy places that beat any stupid tree. The holly son and the holly mother tomb is way better then that if you got something against them don't use chritians for your personal vandeta. like you care much about chritians, the thing is many chritians won't approve your way of life either, so before you say something think first.

best stuff on earth. and to #1 you're halachicly wrong.

cut the crap and take your pills

I know Zionist Rabbies takes Obama as an Enemy and you are a zionist served in Israeli Army, but you should resist Killing orders from Zionist Rabbies Do your job correctly and honestly do not allow or conspire to let another assassin of you under disguised of Muslim, Arab or whatever else.

"Let the Jews conduct their own Hanukkah parties elsewhere and at their own expense." The White House does not pay for the menorah/hanukia and candle lighting; they only provide access to space on the White House grounds. Chabad pays for everything, including the jelly donuts. And, BTW, it wasn't Carter who started this tradition, but his advisor Stuart Eisenstat who persuaded Carter to authorize it.

Do you know the origin of the Hanukkah dreidel? Check it at http://eyiddish.org/hanukkah-dreydl.htm

It's nice to be reminded that the US is a generally enlightened country, one of the few countries around the world where Judaism is respected enough that this kind of event would take place at the presidential house.

The White House does not pay for the menorah/hanukia and candle lighting; they only provide access to space on the White House grounds. Chabad pays for everything, including the jelly donuts. *** Then how do you explain this? "The White House is scaling back this year's Hanukkah Party, inviting only 400 or 500 guests, compared to last year's 800. An unnamed Jewish official told the Jerusalem Post that in the wake of the recession, the administration can't spend substantial sums on holiday parties. The issue, they noted, was exacerbated by the need to serve kosher food, with one official calculating that this increased the price tag by 33 percent."

Read all about it ... http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3815175,00.html

"You guys..." Probably what your grandfather told Armenians just before eviscerating them.. TURKEY OUT OF EUROPE AND OUT OF NATO !

Hannukah is celebrated for 8 days & a candle is lit on the Hanukiayah on each of those days. One candle is lit on the 1st night, two on the 2nd & so on, until the final night, when all the candles are lit. Each of the candles is lit with a "helper" candle, known as the "Shamash". The Shamash is lit 1st, is used to light the other candles, & then is returned to the 9th candle spot, which is set apart ,( in the center) from the others.

Why is every Turk here so absolutely silly ? Quite disturbing, to say the least.

Why are you even on this site?? Go back to the market and grow a SAFAM!! To all of the people that hate - Go back to sleep!!