"During Hanukkah celebration, Biden condemns the poisonous nature of anti-Semitism"
Joe Biden, the current United States Head of State, addressed a gathering on the second day of Hanukkah, expressing his concern over the increase in antisemitic incidents. "I will not be quiet and America will certainly not be quiet," he stated.
The President's remarks came during a White House event commemorating Hanukkah, where for the first time, the White House is displaying its own menorah. The National Menorah, traditionally lit outside the White House every year, was also lit on Sunday night for the eighth consecutive night of the festival.
The National Menorah, although not owned by the White House, is a symbol of the close relationship between the Jewish community and the American government. US Attorney General Merrick Garland, who is Jewish, spoke at the lighting ceremony, urging Americans to always be able to gather to light the menorah.
Garland also shared a personal anecdote, stating that his grandmother would likely have been killed by the Nazis if she had not been able to seek refuge in the United States.
The increase in antisemitic incidents is a cause for concern for many people, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In April 2021, the ADL identified Joe Biden as the future U.S. president who most clearly distanced himself from antisemitism policies.
According to a report by the ADL's sister organisation, the Anti-Defamation Organization, there were 2,717 antisemitic cases in the United States in 2021, a 34% increase from 2020 and the highest total amount since the group began tracking such incidents in 1979.
Anti-hate teams attribute the increase in antisemitic incidents to online disinformation and hate speech. The UK also experienced a record high in antisemitic events last year.
Biden also emphasised the importance of speaking out against antisemitism, stating, "Silence is engineering. We need to not continue to be quiet." He urged Americans to stand together against hate and prejudice.
The National Menorah lighting ceremony was a symbolic reminder of the close relationship between the Jewish community and the American government, and a call to action for Americans to stand together against hate and prejudice.
