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Hanukkah starts with National Menorah lighting in Washington

This year’s annual lighting of the National Menorah took place on the White House Ellipse on the first night of Hanukkah.

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Dec. 20, 2011

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, second from left, Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob J. Lew and Shemtov’s father, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, prepare to light the National Menorah.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Levi Shemtov hands a torch to Lew to light the first candle as the elder Shemtov celebrates. Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 B.C. It is celebrated for eight nights.

Dec. 20, 2011

Levi Shemtov hands a torch to Lew to light the first candle as the elder Shemtov celebrates. Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 B.C. It is celebrated for eight nights.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Ephraim Kaufman, dressed as a dreidel, entertains children attending the lighting. Dreidels are small tops with Hebrew letters on the sides that are spun in a game played by kids, especially during Hanukkah.

Dec. 20, 2011

Ephraim Kaufman, dressed as a dreidel, entertains children attending the lighting. Dreidels are small tops with Hebrew letters on the sides that are spun in a game played by kids, especially during Hanukkah.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Kaufman entertains the crowd at the ceremony.

Dec. 20, 2011

Kaufman entertains the crowd at the ceremony.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Yaakov Lemmer, one of the Three Cantors, sings along with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band.

Dec. 20, 2011

Yaakov Lemmer, one of the Three Cantors, sings along with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Scott Nadel and his daughter Avital, 3, of Bethesda take in the ceremony. One of their relatives, Jeff Nadel, sang as part of the Three Cantors.

Dec. 20, 2011

Scott Nadel and his daughter Avital, 3, of Bethesda take in the ceremony. One of their relatives, Jeff Nadel, sang as part of the Three Cantors.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Irene Gal-Edd of Bethesda proudly wears her menorah hat as she holds her daughter Pearly, 7.

Dec. 20, 2011

Irene Gal-Edd of Bethesda proudly wears her menorah hat as she holds her daughter Pearly, 7.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Ezra Erlbaum, 6, traveled from Philadelphia with his family to attend the lighting.

Dec. 20, 2011

Ezra Erlbaum, 6, traveled from Philadelphia with his family to attend the lighting.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov.

Dec. 20, 2011

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Rabbi Levi Shemtov loses his hat during the lighting of the National Menorah on the White House Ellipse.

Dec. 1, 2010

Rabbi Levi Shemtov loses his hat during the lighting of the National Menorah on the White House Ellipse.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

From left to right, Robert Frost with his daughter, Tzipora Frost, 6, Leora Perlman and her son Nadav Perlman-Greenberg, 4, Ariella Perlman with Gilad Perlman-Greenberg, 6, and Cantor Meredith Greenberg with her son hidden in her coat to keep him warm, Eyal, 3 months, join hundreds of people at the lighting of the National Hanukkah Menorah on the Ellipse on the first night of Hanukkah in Washington.

Dec. 1, 2010

From left to right, Robert Frost with his daughter, Tzipora Frost, 6, Leora Perlman and her son Nadav Perlman-Greenberg, 4, Ariella Perlman with Gilad Perlman-Greenberg, 6, and Cantor Meredith Greenberg with her son hidden in her coat to keep him warm, Eyal, 3 months, join hundreds of people at the lighting of the National Hanukkah Menorah on the Ellipse on the first night of Hanukkah in Washington.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, left, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, center, and Rabbi Levi Shemtov light the National Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah on the White House Ellipse in Washington.

Dec. 13, 2009

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, left, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, center, and Rabbi Levi Shemtov light the National Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah on the White House Ellipse in Washington.

Evan Vucci / AP

The National Menorah is lit on the White House Ellipse.

Dec. 21, 2008

The National Menorah is lit on the White House Ellipse.

Nikki Kahn / The Washington Post

Attorney General Michael Mukasey, center, assisted by by Rabbis Abraham Shemtov, left, and Levi Shemtov, right, lights the National Hanukkah Menorah during a ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington.

Dec. 4, 2007

Attorney General Michael Mukasey, center, assisted by by Rabbis Abraham Shemtov, left, and Levi Shemtov, right, lights the National Hanukkah Menorah during a ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington.

Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff lights the National Hanukkah Menorah during a ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington.

Dec. 25, 2005

Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff lights the National Hanukkah Menorah during a ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington.

Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

The National Hanukkah Menorah is lit on the Ellipse on its 25th anniversary.

Dec. 6, 2004

The National Hanukkah Menorah is lit on the Ellipse on its 25th anniversary.

Rich Lipski / The Washington Post

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, center, flanked by Rabbis Abraham Shemtov and Levi Shemtov, lights the National Menorah on the Ellipse.

Dec. 9, 2001

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, center, flanked by Rabbis Abraham Shemtov and Levi Shemtov, lights the National Menorah on the Ellipse.

Robert A. Reeder / The Washington Post

The official lighting ceremony for the National Menorah on the Ellipse was not held until the third night of Hanukkah. Here, the flames smoke after the lighting with the Washington Monument in the background.

Dec. 5, 1999

The official lighting ceremony for the National Menorah on the Ellipse was not held until the third night of Hanukkah. Here, the flames smoke after the lighting with the Washington Monument in the background.

Michael Lutzky / The Washington Post

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12/05/1999 - PH/MENORAH - CREDIT: Michael Lutzky/TWP - LOCATION: The Ellipse - CAPTION: The official lighting ceremony for the National Menorah on the Ellipse was not held until the third night of Chanukah. Here, the flames smoke after the lighting with the Washington Monument in the background.

Hanukkah starts with National Menorah lighting in Washington

This year’s lighting took place on the White House Ellipse on the first night of Hanukkah.

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