    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [December 10, 2001]
    [Pages 1498-1499]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Lighting the Hanukkah Menorah and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 10, 2001

        The President. Tonight, for the first time in American history, a
    Hanukkah menorah will be lit at the White House Residence. It's a symbol
    that this house may be a

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    temporary home for Laura and me, but it's the people's house, and it
    belongs to people of all faiths.
        The magnificent menorah before us was crafted over a century ago in
    the city of Lvov, which was an important center of Jewish life and
    culture. The Jews of Lvov fell victim to the horror of the Nazi
    Holocaust, but their great menorah survived. And as God promised
    Abraham, the people of Israel still live.
        This has been a year of much sadness in the United States and for
    our friends in Israel. America and Israel have been through much
    together; this year we have grieved together. But as we watch the
    lighting of this second candle of Hanukkah, we're reminded of the
    ancient story of Israel's courage and of the power of faith to make the
    darkness bright. We can see the heroic spirit of the Maccabees lives on
    in Israel today, and we trust that a better day is coming, when this
    festival of freedom will be celebrated in a world free from terror.
        Laura and I wish all the people of Jewish faith in America and
    Israel and around the world many joyous Hanukkahs in the years ahead.
        And all right, now we call on young Talia to help us light the candles. Thank you so much for
    being here.

    [At this point, 8-year-old Talia Lefkowitz,
    daughter of Office of Management and Budget General Counsel Jay P.
    Lefkowitz, lit the menorah and sang a
    Hebrew prayer. The President and First Lady Laura Bush then presented
    gifts to the children in attendance.]

        The President. It's great to see everybody. Thanks for coming to the
    White House.

    Videotape of Usama bin Laden

        Q. Sir, on this occasion of peace and celebration, can you tell us
    how you were struck by this bin Laden videotape?
        The President. It just reminded me of what a murderer he is and how
    right and just our cause is.
        I couldn't imagine somebody like Usama bin Laden understanding the
    joy of Hanukkah or the joy of Christmas or celebrating peace and hope.
    This man wants to destroy any semblance of civilization for his own
    power and his own good. He's so evil that he's willing to send young men
    to commit suicide while he hides in caves.
        And while we celebrate peace and lightness, I fully understand in
    order to make sure peace and lightness exist in the future, we must
    bring him to justice. And we will.
        But for those who see this tape, they'll realize that not only is he
    guilty of incredible murder, he has no conscience and no soul, that he
    represents the worst of civilization.

    Note: The President spoke at 5 p.m. in the Bookseller's Area at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Usama bin Laden, leader of
    the Al Qaida terrorist organization. The Office of the Press Secretary
    also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.