Second man Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ better half, muddled the history behind Hanukkah Monday in a since-deleted social media post in which he tried to explain why Jews celebrate the ancient miracle.
“The story of Hanukkah and the story of the Jewish people has always been one of hope and resilience,” Emhoff, who is Jewish, wrote in X. “In the story of Hanukkah, the Jews had to hide. No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had will survive.”
“But they survived and the oil kept burning,” he added.
“During eight days of hiding, they read prayers and continued their traditions. That is why Hanukkah means dedication. It was during those dark nights that the Maccabees dedicated themselves to maintaining hope and faith in oil, each other, and their Judaism. In these dark times, I remember that story,” concluded Emhoff’s post.
US Second Man Doug Emhoff lights the first flame of the Menorah candle during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 11, 2023. via REUTERS
Rather than a story of “hiding,” Hanukkah is actually a celebration of great victory for the Jewish people.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees, a Jewish militia, liberated ancient Israel from Syrian-Greek occupation some 2,200 years ago, restoring Jewish ritual to the holy site.
When the Maccabees sought to light the temple Menorah, as part of a rededication ceremony, they found only a few days’ worth of oil. But when the oil was lit, it lasted, miraculously, for eight days.
Second Man Doug Emhoff and Vice President Kamala Harris in a since-deleted Hanukkah post on social media.
Before Emhoff deleted his post, several X users were quick to point out that the second man, who has worked with the White House in combating antisemitism, missed the mark on the story behind the Light Festival.
“Doug Emhoff seems to think the Macabees are hiding in some kind of underground lair with oil lamps,” Will Scharf, a former federal prosecutor and current candidate for Missouri attorney general, wrote at X. “This is clearly not a Hanukkah story.”
“The rededication of the Temple and the recommitment to biblical values and teachings is the story of Hanukkah,” he added.
Rather than a story of “hiding,” Hanukkah is actually a celebration of great victory for the Jewish people.
“I really hope the Second Man leaves this to some poor, uneducated intern who can’t be bothered to consult Wikipedia,” Jason Bedrick, a research fellow for the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, said in a post on X. Eight days in hiding? All right, man!”
“How could this happen?” Noah Rothman, a senior writer for National Review, wondered.
“It cannot be explained in general, but at this point in this environment, it is so ineffective that it can only be an enemy action. There are saboteurs at work here. It has to be,” added Rothman.
“Wait what?” writer Katya Sedgwick says on X. “The story of Hanukkah is not a story of ‘hiding’, but of winning a war. It is a story of faith and a story of re-establishing Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.”
“Emhoff is somehow responsible for fighting antisemitism, but he can’t get his terms straight,” he added, incredulous.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
