For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 7, 2001
President's Hanukkah Message
Hanukkah, 2001
Laura and I Send Our Warmest Greetings to All Those Celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights.
The celebration of Hanukkah is inspired by the story of the miracle
of
the lamp: how a ration of oil sufficient only for one day burned
for
eight. It is a holiday of hope that encourages trust in
God's
providence and God's purposes, even when we are threatened by
darkness
and destruction.
Hanukkah commemorates the reconsecration of the ancient temple in
Jerusalem by the Maccabees and their followers, after it had been
desecrated. Hanukkah celebrates the liberation of the
ancient kingdom
of Israel from foreign occupation. It teaches us that
freedom must
sometimes be fought for -- a message that continues to resonate
today.
We join all people of Jewish faith in thanking God who has
"sustained us
and enabled us to reach this season." May the candles of
Hanukkah light
our memories of those lost on September 11. And may this
be a season of
joy for us all.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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