U.S. Vice President Joins Menorah Lighting

Vice President of the United States, Joseph Biden, lit the shamash at the National Menorah lighting on the Ellipse on the first night of Chanukah.

“Tonight is about miracles, the miracle of courageous warriors overcoming the great odds,” Biden said, pointing to another noteworthy miracle: “Thousands of years later, Judaism is alive and well.”

“The truth is that Jewish heritage, Jewish culture, Jewish values are an essential, such an essential part, of who we are [as Americans],” Biden said.

“It is fair to say that Jewish heritage is American heritage.”

The National Menorah lighting is sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).