Press Still Mocking Obama for Chanukah Party Flub
The New York Post reports: Oy vey!
Just days after rival Rick Perry accused him of fighting a “war on religion,” President Obama looked more like a schlemiel fighting a war on decorum when the White House lit all the candles on the menorah at its official Hanukkah party.
“He’s not supposed to. The first night of Hanukkah, you light the first one,” said Rabbi Chava Koster of B’nai Israel, a reformed temple in Greenwich Village.
Even worse, the official celebration occurred almost two weeks too early.
Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec. 20.
At the ceremony Thursday evening, Obama stood before a hanukkiyah (a special nine-candle menorah) with all the candles lit. He said the holiday represented “right over might, faith over doubt” and called it a reminder that “miracles come in all sizes.”
Obama may have been getting an early start on the holiday festivities to make way for his scheduled family vacation in Hawaii next week.
“I think it’s kind of sad if you want this to be an embracing of the entire community. You can light a hanukkiyah in Hawaii that would have been very nice,” Koster said.
{NY Post/Matzav.com Newscenter}
17 Responses to “Press Still Mocking Obama for Chanukah Party Flub”
2. Comment from midwesterner
Time December 10, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Yes, Obama blew it. As per Daas Torah, emanating from the mouth of Rabbi Chava!!
3. Comment from SDR
Time December 10, 2011 at 7:09 PM
“Rabbi” Coster is the biggest bizayon in the article.
4. Comment from anonymous
Time December 10, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Criticism well deserved.!!
I knew he was rushing it out of the way to make room for some other plans.What a farce of a man.
Speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Whatever works….
Good bye, Mr.President. In with the new, hopefully, whoever that may be.
5. Comment from far rockaway teacher
Time December 10, 2011 at 7:37 PM
I am sorry but a Torah website should not call a reform lady clergyperson “Rabbi.”
6. Comment from Chocolate Bar
Time December 10, 2011 at 7:44 PM
It still doesn’t make sense- If your going to celebrate in any way do it within it’s time otherwise what’s the point? by the way invitations already went out for his Peasach seder-Go Figure!
7. Comment from koillel101
Time December 10, 2011 at 7:55 PM
I think this is pathetic but also the person who is doing the criticizing is a lady rabbi of a reform temple. Seems weird.
8. Comment from whatever….
Time December 10, 2011 at 8:09 PM
If he’s 2 weeks off, what’s the difference how many candles he lights?
He’s not yotze Chanukah lighting for many other reasons too. Why all of a sudden is a Reform Rabbi (which is a triple oxymoron: female-reform-rabbi) so makpid on halacha?
9. Comment from Imo onochi b’tzoroh
Time December 10, 2011 at 8:17 PM
The first night of Chanukah you light one candle. Two weeks before Chanukah you may light as many as you like; it really doesn’t matter (at least not to observant Jews. You’re not supposed to have female Rabbis, either.)
10. Comment from ND
Time December 10, 2011 at 8:33 PM
I have heard that his suit failed a shatnes test, too. Come on people,… give it a rest.
11. Comment from Anonymous
Time December 10, 2011 at 9:17 PM
I agree with #1. This whole thing is for PR. What difference does it make if it’s not on the right night? This is a nonissue!
12. Comment from Missouri Tiger
Time December 10, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Reformed?
13. Comment from CJ Srullowitz
Time December 11, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Agree with Wilson. It’s a gesture. Let’s be grateful for what we have in this country. And careful in our criticism.
14. Comment from yitsy
Time December 11, 2011 at 12:15 AM
oh gosh leave the guy alone number one said it the best
15. Comment from Choiziq
Time December 11, 2011 at 1:24 AM
Maybe Ms. Koster got her smicha from the Rabbah!
Btw this whole WH. candle lighting nonsense aught to be stopped. We are in Galus & there is no reason, we have to force our religion on anybody. Is there anything we learn’t from Eisav & Yaakov?!
16. Comment from Maier A
Time December 11, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Please, call me rabba…
17. Comment from OrthodoxPundit
Time December 11, 2011 at 3:52 PM
1,
Thats exactly what I wrote next week here
http://orthodoxpundit.blogspot.com/2011/12/does-wh-remind-secretary-clinton-of.html
1. Comment from wilson street
Time December 10, 2011 at 6:35 PM
oh please. when he does something really wrong like pressuring netanyahu, etc.. then its ok to criticize but this. its like the little boy who cried wolf.