Interesting that Michelle's cousin the Rabbi from Chicago's black synagogue was not invited.

You are a traitor to the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Don't campaign at the cost of a beautiful, happy Jewish holiday. Just be honest and do the Ramadan thing where you are much more at home than Chanukah.

attempt to stab our leaders behind their backs while at the same time attempt to appear cheerful and pleasant in order to regain the Jewish vote and contributions you have lost as a result of the way you have dealt with our national home of Israel.

I agree with the others who feel this is completely insulting - there is big difference between joking and arrogant paternalistic pandering. Jew or no Jew what gives this guy the right to celebrate Chanukah and to determine when it is celebrated?

Didn't the Nazi's tell the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto to put down their weapons and celebrate a Passover Seder with Hitler? Now we have Obama "celebrating" Hanukkah on the wrong day, lighting all the candles at once and defiling our history and our sacred tradition.

Everyone is ignoring this. Bush celebrated Hanukah early in 2008. Did anyone complain? And which Jewish congresspeople declined, exactly?

how do you know "most other" Jews declined to attend? How do you know who was invited. Debbie Wassernam Schultz, a Jewish Florida Democrat politician and currently Democratic party leader was there as a host. To all, what kind of legitimate Jewish prayers could be kosher to say over such an event? It is not the season. It would not be kosher to say the prayer lighting the Channukah candles. Too early. Is there some American-Democratic-Jewish prayer to re-elect Obama that would be appropriate? I think it would be safer for Israelis to understand that the Obama Presidency is not a friend to Israel. Only a "fair weather" friend at best.

Debie, Debie, Debie, You are right, I know nothing about you and it is OK... Isn't it ? Shabat shalom !

President Obama insults every self respecting Jew by makint this mockery of a celebration 10 days earlier than expected, thus implying that the exact date of the festival is not important and therefore that the Chag itself is worthless! Why don't he celebrate Chrismas tonight??? It is all a farce, pure marketing, merely a hollow PR move!!! And to see all those court Jews fawning on him, kissing the drapes of the panicz' robe - what a shande!!!!! It is so obvious that he despises Judaism and Israel, it is there for anyone to see!] I hope our brothers and sisters in USA take a firm stand against this man in the next presidential election!

Sarah B has never been a whiner. A lot of countries need to be reminded now and then that Israel COULD wipe them off the map if neccessary because that is what THEY would do to Israel if they could. There is a lot to be grateful to the Jewish people for if you get your head out and look around you.

Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. It is in your new covenant, and the word used, I think, is "dedication." That is what Hanukkah means - "dedication." How do you think he would have responded to what Obama did? Not very kindly, I can assure you. No, you don't know me, but if you keep this kind of nonsense up, I guarantee you will. Shabbat Shalom

You have no evidence that jewish leaders boycotted the event. Sitting in the front row was the very conservative malcolm hoenlein executive of the conference of presidents of major jewish organizationsl taking pictures anf enjoying his kippah wearing orthofox self. That the two other supreme court Jews did not attend for other than scheduling reasons is made up nonsense. Are you and pam geller the same person?

I wonder ....the president now start celebrating Xmas on Dec. 12????

Poster #4 has successfully trolled YNet.

That will be fun.... Just leave the Jews alone. You are simply disgusting in your attempts to disguise yourself as "all american president". You are nobody, you are nothing. Leh le azazel!

i am neither american (see my header i know some about some americans), nor israeli. so i have none of many other posters glib cynicism. all i see is a smiling head of state (who probably knows the names above), with his wife, and colleagues, and a menorah.

Are you sure about that? Or are you so self-consumed that you think your opinion and your take on events are the only ones that matter? Absent from the attendees were the heads of all the major Jewish philanthropic organizations, did you notice that? That's a first. Grow a brain; grow a spine. And don't ever dare to presume that you have the same sources of information as do I. You don't. That much, I can guarantee. Now go crawl back under your rock, Ibrahim.

...George Bush hosted first official White House Hanukah party and was held on December 10, 2001, which as on a Monday. Officially, by Jewish calendar arithmetic, the first "NIGHT" was the evening before, on Sunday. It was on the "first day" of Hanukah..

Please do not confuse me with the 'Steve USA #11',. Either a coincidence the way he denotes himself or a deliberate attempt at deception. #18: Walt K from Sherbrooke, Canada. I have never made any comments on this talk back (or any other) concerning Christmas and as far as Christians are concerned, my appreciation of those that support Israel has been documented on here before (numerous times) That said, ....you sound very much like someone who needs help in exactly what your complaining about. #23 (impostor) Unlike Obama, Pres. Bush was a good friend to Israel. The Anti Israel and Anti Jewish Americans where not supporters of Mr. Bush. Like you.

The picture showing the Obamas standing with the Bidens to light the Chanukah menorah shows the disrespect the Obamas have for Jews. Mrs. Obama covered her bare shoulders when she visited the Pope knowing it was not proper to expose herself. They know very well the same is with the Jewish people, especially the Orthodox people I see in the picture he invited to the lighting of the Menorah. It's offensive to them and Obamas are very well aware of it. He does the Jewish people no favor by lighting a Chanukah menorah weeks before Chanuka. It's all for show. There isn't anyone Jewish with him to recite the bracha.

I know Hanukkah is celebrated at the White House every year. This is a minor Jewish festival that has assumed a larger than life dimension in recent times.So why do we need the White House to get involved in this?