Regarding the recent White House Chanukah party, Gary Rosenblatt kvells with pride (“We’ve Come a Long Way, Abie,” Dec. 26). Describing the occasion, Rosenblatt writes: “Diversity was on display everywhere one looked, with hundreds of Jews noshing kosher delicacies in rooms bedecked with holly, the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra playing both Christmas and Chanukah tunes, and dozens of yarmulke-wearing men davening at ad hoc mincha and maariv services over in the corner.”
Having the orchestra play Christmas tunes at a Chanukah celebration is totally inappropriate and shows a total lack of respect on the part of this administration and its top executive towards Judaism, and by way of extension, to Jews the world over. There is no excuse for such a mix-up. This is not the first time that the Obama White House has made a Chanukah faux pas. On Dec. 8, 2011 at the White House Chanukah party, Obama said concerning Chanukah: “We never need an excuse for a good party.”
If that’s what President Obama feels, then it’s time for us to excuse ourselves from the White House Chanukah parties and trust in the One Above to guide us through these perilous times.
Montreal
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