Obama's Jerusalem omission is a distortion of Chanukah

On the first day of Chanukah, for the sixth time since taking office, President Obama released a Chanukah message that distorted the story of the holiday and served his anti-Israel policy. 

In his message, the president left out the most essential part of the Maccabees victory: the recapture of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Holy Temple atop what is now known as the Temple Mount. This is a fact he’s omitted every year of his presidency, and something his predecessor George Bush mentioned in each of his Chanukah messages.

The liberation of Jerusalem and the cleansing of the Temple from the Hellenistic idols and rituals is an important part of the Chanukah story. In fact, the meaning of the name of the holiday in Hebrew translates to the word “dedication” in English.

This was President Obama’s message:

“Over the eight nights of Chanukah, Jews across America, Israel, and the world will remember an ancient triumph of freedom over oppression, and renew their faith in the possibility of miracles large and small.

“Even in the darkest, shortest days of winter, the Festival of Lights brims with possibility and hope. The courage of the Maccabees reminds us that we too can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. The candles of the Menorah remind us that even the smallest light has the power to shine through the darkness. And the miracle at the heart of Chanukah — the oil that lasted for eight nights instead of only one — reminds us that even when the future is uncertain, our best days are yet to come.

“May this Chanukah embolden us to do what is right, shine a light on the miracles we enjoy, and kindle in all of us the desire to share those miracles with others. From my family to yours, Chag Sameach.”

Now compare that to President George W. Bush’s Chanukah message in 2007: