Washington - President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are set to host a White House reception on Monday to celebrate Hanukkah. The event comes as the President continues to denounce the escalating antisemitism both in the United States and abroad, especially in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The reception, attended by the President, First Lady, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, will honor the Jewish festival of lights, which will continue through the week until Friday. The Biden administration has been actively engaged in combatting antisemitism, having announced in May what they deemed as the first-ever national strategy to counter this growing threat.

The comprehensive plan laid out over 100 actions, designed to raise awareness about the dangers of antisemitism and its impact on society. However, despite these efforts, instances of antisemitism have intensified in recent times, particularly following the attack by Hamas and other militants on October 7th, which sparked the ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza. The Israeli government has faced mounting criticism for the increasing number of Palestinian casualties.

While the Biden administration supported a temporary pause in the hostilities and facilitated the release of some hostages held by Hamas, the fighting continues unabated. The President is actively pursuing another truce to bring an end to the conflict and restore peace in the region.

Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman and husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will also be in attendance at the Hanukkah reception. Emhoff holds the distinction of being the first Jewish person to be the spouse of a nationally elected leader in the United States.

In a show of solidarity, Emhoff presided over the lighting ceremony of a massive menorah in front of the White House to mark the first night of Hanukkah. Speaking at the event, he expressed concern for American Jews who he said were currently feeling alone and in pain.

The struggle against antisemitism has extended beyond official government functions. The University of Pennsylvania's President, Liz Magill, resigned last week amidst pressure from donors and criticism over her testimony at a congressional hearing. Magill faced repeated questioning regarding the university's response to calls for the genocide of Jews on campus, and her failure to unequivocally state that such calls would violate the school's conduct policy.

The issue of protecting Jewish students on campuses across the United States has been brought to the forefront in the wake of rising fears of antisemitism, both domestically and globally, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

As President Biden and his administration continue to combat antisemitism, their commitment to fostering understanding and awareness serves as a beacon of hope for the Jewish community, both in the United States and around the world.

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