National Menorah, 2020
This photograph of the newly-lit National Menorah was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on December 10, 2020, following the National Menorah lighting ceremony. The South Portico of the White House is visible in the background. The 30-foot tall menorah was lit by Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, and United States Secretary of the Interior David Longly Bernhardt. In celebration of Hanukkah, menorah lightings have been held in President's Park since 1979. Although President Jimmy Carter helped light the menorah in 1979, typically a member of the president's Cabinet assists with the proceedings. Secretary Bernhardt assisted with the lighting of the National Menorah in 2019 and 2020. Sponsored by the National Menorah Council and the American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), the National Menorah lighting is typically attended by thousands of guests each year and often includes remarks from rabbis and political figures, performances by military bands, and traditional delicacies such as latkes and sufganiyot. In 2020, a scaled-down version of the event was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Photographer
- Matthew D'Agostino
- Date of Work
- December 10, 2020
- Type
- Photograph
- Credit
- Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association
