December 10th marks the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish “Festival of Lights.” As is traditional, politicians rushed to Twitter to virtue signal in celebration. Of all of the high profile figures listed below, can you spot an interesting pattern? Perhaps a missing detail?
Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating around the world. This year has tested us all, but it's also clarified what really matters. May the lights of the menorah remind us to cherish the blessings we have and offer glimmers of hope. From my family to yours, Chag Sameach!
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 10, 2020
As Hanukkah begins, Jill and I send our warmest wishes to everyone celebrating in the United States and around the world. We know things look a little different this year, but we hope these next eight nights are filled with family, love, and light. Chag Sameach!
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 10, 2020
Wishing all our loved ones, neighbors, and friends across the country lighting their first candle tonight a beautiful and #HappyHanukkah 💙
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 10, 2020
To everyone celebrating in New York, across America, and around the world:
Happy #Hanukkah!
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 10, 2020
Wishing a #HappyHanukkah to all as families across the country begin to celebrate this evening! pic.twitter.com/NHjRpDeij3
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 10, 2020
Tonight as the first candle is lit, we wish all who celebrate a Happy Hanukkah filled with joy and light. pic.twitter.com/GXptNCpjTc
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) December 10, 2020
Notice that every message followed the Democrats’ pattern of erasing religion from the festival. Not one message above contains the word “Jew,” or addresses Jews. Instead, salutations are offered to the vague and irreligious “all those celebrating.” This seems to be an intentional choice of words, given that it appears every Jewish holiday.
Michelle and I wish all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a sweet year full of health and prosperity.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 7, 2010
Join me in wishing all our neighbors who celebrate a happy and joyous Passover. Chag Sameach!
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 30, 2018
The phrase “all those celebrating” is drawn from the same Leftist dictionary of redundancy as “people with penises” and “people who menstruate.”
It should also be noted that New York is home to the most Jews of any state in the country, and New York City is home to more Jews than any other city outside of Israel. Why, then, are Jews excluded from messages sent entirely to pander to them?
The reason is simple. Democrats don’t care about religion unless it can be used to achieve their political goals. They’re fine with the chocolates and the candles and spinning a wooden block. They’re less fine with the fact that Hanukkah is a celebration of the successful liberation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem — the eternal capital of the Jewish homeland — from anti-religious tyrants. How appropriate for modern times.
Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff — who is Jewish — released their own candid, relaxed, and unscripted Hanukkah celebration video. Again, no mention of the religion it relates to.
Hanukkah is one of our favorite holidays — and a reminder to spread the light at a time when we've never needed it more.
From our big, modern family to yours, happy Hanukkah! pic.twitter.com/KbkisZooCO
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) December 10, 2020
In fact, not only do Harris and Emhoff carefully avoid the subject of religion, Harris even hijacks the festival to push her own agenda. Harris said that she “loves” Hanukkah because “it really is about the light, and bringing light where there has been darkness,” saying that there is “so much work to be done in the world, to bring light.” She continued, grinning, with “it is a celebration of, always Tikkun Olam, which is about fighting for justice, and fighting for the dignity of all people, and it’s about rededication.”
Except, it’s not. Tikkun olam is Hebrew for “repair of the world,” and is interpreted in several ways. For some, it relates to the rejection of idolatry. For others, it relates to the pursuit of justice in the context of qualities valued by God. God. Another religious “word” ignored by the Left.
In this case, the sort of “tikkun olam justice” Harris hopes to promote through her bastardization of religion is far from anything promoted by Judaism, or indeed Christianity. As the smiling Harris lights the Hanukkah candles as she calls for “the dignity of all people,” perhaps she should spare a moment for the unborn she believes it should be legal to murder, or the scores of people she fought to keep jailed?
When we understand the actual meaning and history of Hanukkah as a Jewish celebration commemorating a successful battle against anti-religious tyranny, and that Democrats despise any level of faith which can transcend their power, the reason behind the Democrats’ enthusiastic erosion of religion from their tweets becomes a little clearer.
When they are advocating for the empowerment of nations like Iran who call for Israel to be wiped from the map, the true history of Hanukkah becomes even more relevant.
Ian Haworth is host of The Ian Haworth Show and The Truth in 60 Seconds. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.