[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 52 (Monday, December 29, 2003)]
[Pages 1838-1839]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Lighting the Hanukkah Menorah and an Exchange With Reporters

December 22, 2003

    The President. Thank you all. Welcome. Hanukkah celebrates a great 
miracle and a great victory, the triumph of faith over tyranny.
    More than 2,000 years ago, the land of ancient Israel had been 
conquered, and the practice of Judaism was outlawed. Yet a patriot named 
Judah Maccabee and his followers courageously captured Jerusalem. As the 
Maccabees prepared to rededicate the holy temple, they found enough oil 
to last for only one day. But the oil lasted for 8 days, a miracle that 
we remember by lighting the menorah.
    The Jewish tradition calls on us to honor every commandment with 
works of beauty. This beautiful menorah, more than two centuries old, is 
from the Spertus Museum in

[[Page 1839]]

Chicago, and Laura and I are honored to have it here at the White House.
    I want to thank the Kol Sasson from the great University of Maryland 
for joining us today, and thank you for lending your beautiful voice for 
this occasion.
    Tonight as we prepare to light the candles, we hope and pray that 
all who live under tyranny will see their day of freedom and that the 
light of faith will always shine through the darkness. We also pray for 
the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, many of whom are spending 
the holiday season far from home and their loved ones. We are grateful 
for their service to America. We're grateful for the support and 
sacrifice of their families.
    And now, Jacob Murphy and Sidney Hallem will help us light the 
candles. Their fathers are serving in our United States Armed Forces 
with distinction and with honor.

[At this point, the menorah was lit.]

Holiday Travel

    Q. Mr. President, do you have any words for Americans who are 
worried about traveling this holiday season?
    The President. My words are these: Our Government is doing 
everything we can to protect our country. We've got a lot of really 
decent, hard-working Americans who will be working over the holiday 
season to do everything we can to protect Americans from harm. And I 
want to thank them for their efforts, thank them for their hard work. 
American citizens need to go about their lives, but as they do so, they 
need to know that governments at all levels are working as hard as we 
possibly can to protect the American citizens.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 4:32 p.m. in the Bookseller's Area in the 
East Wing at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to a cappella 
singing group Kol Sasson.