WH asks to borrow special hanukkiah to use in this year's celebration-Rabbi says "No"

[kpete]

From a rabbi in the DC area, passed on by Rabbi Darah Lerner of Bangor and copied from a friend:

“Just got off the phone with someone in Washington, D.C., who is helping to plan the White House’s Hanukkah Banquet this year. It seems the White House was interested in borrowing a special hanukkiah to use in this year’s celebration.
I told her we are honored to be asked.
I told her I wish I could say yes.
I told her that Hanukkah’s celebration of religious freedom, spreading light in the face of darkness, cultivating hope instead of fear, is antithetical to everything this White House has embraced.
I told her we would have to say no.
Then I received a second phone call, that this conversation should be kept confidential. I asked why. Because it wouldn’t be appropriate, I was told. Because this is how things are done in Washington, D.C., I was told.
I told her I would take that into consideration.
I did.
And then I wrote this post.”

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2017/11/americas-worst-humans_16.html#comment-3619836907

[VMA131Marine]

1. Cool! I learned something new.

I did not know that a hannukiah is a menorah with nine arms instead of seven.

[EllieBC]

3. It's kind of the more correct term.

You can't light a true menorah anymore because there's not a beit hamikdash.

And while it's 9 branches, a chanukiah to be "kosher" must have 8 completely the same height and size. The 9th is merely the "helper" candle to light the others.

[longship]

2. Standing up!

R&K

[Corgigal]

4. Good people

on both sides, both sides.

And ah, NO. Good decision.

[mountain grammy]

5. Resist!

[sandensea]

6. It's worth noting that Cheeto made slight inroads among all minority voting groups but one:

Jewish voters, among whom Hillary got a record 74% - besting Obama's share by several points.

Why? I think they know a dangerous, far-right demagogue when they see one.