whitehouse blog

Hanukkah at the White House: History of the 2011 Menorah

A  very special menorah was the centerpiece of this year's Hanukkah celebration at the White House. It was created in a displaced persons’ camp after World War II and is dedicated to General Joseph T. McNarney, who served as the Commander in Chief of United States Forces in the European theatre from November 1945 to March 1947.

The Hebrew inscription on the lamp, “A great miracle happened there,” is found on the dreidls (or tops)  that children play with on Hanukkah and refers to the miracle of Hanukkah, but may in this instance also poignantly signify the liberation and salvation of the Jews in the displaced persons’ camp.

Related:
Watch how the White House "kosherized" the kitchen before the Hanukkah celebration
Menorah that survived Katrina is …

Behind the Scenes Roundup: Holidays at the White House

The holidays are a very special time at the White House, from the magnificent decorations in every room to the festive celebrations held throughout the month of December. This year’s holiday theme, “Shine, Give, Share,” honors members of the military and their families for all that they do and sacrifice for our nation. The décor throughout the White House, hung with care by a team of volunteers from 37 different states, reflects the theme and pays tribute to our service members and their loved ones.

We pulled together a roundup of some of our favorite videos that take you inside the White House during this special time of year.

Watch a time lapse video of volunteers transforming the White House over a long weekend.

A closer look at …

Weekly Address: The President and First Lady Thank our Troops for their Service as we Celebrate the Holiday Season

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama offer a special holiday tribute to some of the strongest, bravest, and most resilient members of our American family – the men and women who wear our country’s uniform and the families who support them:

Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

The difference

Today, President Obama sent the email below to the White House email list.  Earlier this week, we asked the folks on our email list to share their stories about what losing $40 a paycheck would mean for them and their families if Congress didn't pass the payroll tax cut.  The response was overwhelming.  To date, over 42,000 people have shared their stories with us via WhiteHouse.gov and many more have shared their stories on Twitter using the hastag #40dollars. These voices in the debate made a real difference and today, President Obama signed a 2-month extension of the payroll tax cut into law.

You can check out some of the stories here or submit your own. And if you didn't receive this …

President Obama: Extending Payroll Tax Cut Is a “Boost We Need Right Now”

President Obama today signed into law a two month extension of the payroll tax cut, which means that 160 million American workers will not see their paychecks shrink starting Jan 1, 2012. The President thanked Congress for ending the stalemate and urged them to keep working to reach an agreement that extends this tax cut as well as unemployment insurance through all of 2012, saying it is the right thing to do for American families and for the economy, and called it "a boost that we very much need right now."

The extension came after tens of thousands of working Americans turned to the internet to let politicians in Washington know just how much they were relying on that tax break, which amounts to about $40 …

From the Archives: The White House of Christmas Past

Unlike the Ghost of Christmas Past, the White House of Christmas Past was full of cheer and holiday spirit. Take a look at some of our favorite videos from the last two years highlighting some of the things that make holidays at the White House such an exciting time of year.

A Favorite Holiday Tradition: Building the White House gingerbread house (2009)

Touring the 2009 White House Holiday Decor

Time Lapse: Installing the White House Christmas Tree (2010)

Behind the scenes with volunteers as they decorate for the holidays in 2010

Follow Live Dec 24: Los Alamos National Lab Tracks Rudolph’s Nose, Santa’s Sleigh

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from Energy.gov

Since 1998, scientists at the Energy Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory have been using the latest in satellite and radar technology to track Rudolph’s red nose, and in doing so, Santa, as he cruises the globe on December 24th. Thanks to their expert work, we can follow his journey live starting at 6AM EST on Christmas Eve.

Last December, I had the pleasure of talking with the program's lead researcher, Diane Roussel-Dupre. She explained in detail how the lab uses advanced optical cameras and radar receivers on the FORTE and Cibola Flight Experiment space satellites to monitor the breathtakingly-fast gift-giving team and talked openly about Mrs. Claus’ appreciation that the lab can help assure Santa and …

12/23/11 or #40dollars

With the holidays in full swing and the countdown clock ticking away, President Obama continued to press for the extension of the payroll tax cut for 160 million working Americans and unemployment insurance benefits for those looking for work. The President urged House Republicans to put aside their political games and pass a bill that garnered overwhelming, bipartisan support in the US Senate.