White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to light National Menorah in front of White House

Emanuel to light National Menorah at White House

WASHINGTON — White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will light the National Menorah Sunday afternoon in celebration of Hanukkah.

The ceremony marks the 30th anniversary of the first National Menorah lighting in 1979. President Jimmy Carter attended that ceremony.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C. after its desecration by the Syrian-Greeks. The eight-day festival began on Friday.

Emanuel, who is Jewish, is the guest of honor at the event on the Ellipse in front of the White House.