'No idea what he’s celebrating': Biden mocked for celebrating Hanukkah at WH amid rising antisemitism

WASHINGTON: Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, President Joe Biden marked the occasion of Hanukkah with a White House celebration on Monday night. Biden has consistently condemned the increase in antisemitism both in the United States and abroad.

The event was attended by almost 800 people, including the President, First Lady Jill Biden, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Guests at the celebration included members of Congress, artists, state and local politicians, Holocaust survivors, and leaders from various Jewish religious denominations, as reported by the White House.

President Joe Biden hosts Hanukkah ceremony at the White House

During the eight-day Jewish holiday, observed this year from December 7 to Friday, December 15, a menorah is lit each night.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi at Central Synagogue in New York City, presided over the White House celebration, which included menorah lighting by Emhoff and employees who are descended from Holocaust survivors.

Biden discussed how Hanukkah is a timeless tale of miracles and how we can always find the light, even in the darkest of circumstances.

In May, the Biden administration unveiled what it referred to be the nation's first-ever antisemitism plan. This outlined over a hundred activities, including a number of measures to increase knowledge and awareness of antisemitism and the danger it causes in the United States.

The October 7 attack by the militant group Hamas in the Southern part of Israel has triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, criticism of Israel's approach has intensified as the number of Palestinian casualties increases, leading to a rise in antisemitism in specific areas.

Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, has issued a warning about an imminent "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and asked his colleagues to demand an urgent humanitarian cease-fire.

Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, holds the distinction of being the first Jewish person married to a nationally elected official in the United States.

During the recent lighting of a substantial menorah in front of the White House to mark the first night of Hanukkah, Obama expressed that American Jews are currently experiencing "anguish" and a sense of isolation.

The White House advocated for another ceasefire, yet hostilities continued. It previously supported a short-lived ceasefire, now expired, during which Hamas released some of the prisoners it held in Gaza.

Internet reacts to Joe Biden hosting Hanukkah ceremony at the White House

Internet users reacted to the ceremony and shared their views on Twitter/X. A user commented, "Joe has no idea what he’s celebrating."

Another user added, "Ok, he’s worried about the Israel Lobby. I grew up with 500, 000 fellow Jews. But, when I became anti-Zionist in 1967, you can imagine what reactions I got the next 40 years."

The University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill steps down

Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, stepped down on Saturday, December 9, following mounting pressure from supporters and criticism surrounding her testimony at a congressional hearing.

During the hearing, she faced repeated questioning and was unable to affirm that her statements, which seemed to endorse the genocide of Jews, would be considered a violation of the university's conduct policy.

Amid growing concerns about antisemitism throughout the world in the aftermath of the Gaza War, universities across the United States have been accused of failing to safeguard Jewish students.