On December 17, 1979, during the Iran hostage crisis, the President attended the lighting of the National Menorah in front of the White House, sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch. It was his first appearance since the crisis. Here are his remarks.
It's a real honor for me to come from the White House here to this ceremony celebrating the commencement of Chanukah, last night, the Festival of Lights.
As many of you know, the season of Chanukah commemorates the victory of religious freedom. At the commencement of the celebration of this annual event, this season of thanksgiving and closeness to G‑d, there was a miracle within which the candle which was supposed to only burn a short time burned for 8 days and nights.
This miracle showed that G‑d meets our needs. If we depend on Him, He will meet our needs. This also shows that there is a need to celebrate courage and to remember that hope in one's breast need never die.
This season, religious season, commemorates the perpetuation of age-old dreams and the hunger of men and women down through the ages to maintain a spirit committed to life under the most difficult circumstances, the most difficult persecutions, the most difficult dangers, and under the most difficult suffering. It also commemorates humankind's commitment to be free.
These commitments to live and to be free are ever present these days in the minds and hearts of all Americans, because we know that 50 of our fellow human beings, our fellow citizens, are not free and they want to live. We pray that this will prevail, this desire to be free and to maintain life.
The first candle that I lit, the shammes candle, has given its light now in this glass cage to five other candles. It has not itself been diminished. It shows that when we give life and love to others, the life and love in our own hearts is not diminished. As a matter of fact it grows the more we share it. So, tonight we pray that our closeness to G‑d, our memory of these fine commitments of human beings down through the ages will strengthen our desires to share our life and our love, not only with the 50 American hostages, for whom we pray constantly, but for men and women throughout the world who don't always have freedom and whose lives might be in danger.
I'm very grateful that this beautiful menorah has been dedicated for the commemoration of the season of Chanukah, and I'm very grateful as President to be partaking in this commemoration of a season when human beings are drawn closer to G‑d and, in that spirit, have confidence that the future will bring us a better life with G‑d and with one another.
Thank you very much.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 28, 1980
To Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
I welcome this opportunity to congratulate you on your thirtieth anniversary as Lubavitcher Rebbe.
You have greatly strengthened your religious movement and the societies it has served. Men, women and children in this country and abroad are richer for the programs you have initiated and for the precepts of Judaism you have upheld.
Both Jews and non-Jews rejoice with you in this milestone, and all of us join in tribute to the social and humanitarian achievements you have inspired and implemented during these three decades.
Roselyn and I hope this celebration will be as satisfying for you as your enduring work has been for all those who have benefited from it. We send you our warmest personal regards.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Carter
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
Lubavitch
770 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213
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