How I Got President Carter to Light the White House Menorah
Just before the summer recess, a high-level delegation from the German federal government and the leadership of the Claims Conference visited the Jewish campus in Berlin for a meaningful and emotional encounter with students, educators, and community leaders • Full Story
The visit emphasized the shared responsibility to support Holocaust survivors and ensure a strong and vibrant Jewish future in Germany.
The delegation was welcomed by Berlin’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, who led the guests on a guided tour of the campus and held a deep discussion with them about the present and future of Jewish life in the German capital.
One of the most notable figures in the delegation was Stuart E. Eizenstat, former U.S. Special Advisor on Holocaust Issues and current Chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Now 82 years old, Eizenstat has held numerous senior roles in U.S. administrations, including Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton. He also served as a special envoy for Holocaust-related issues, leading major negotiations for reparations for Holocaust survivors.
In the private sector, he has been a senior law partner, corporate advisor, author, and board member of various organizations.
Among others present were Dr. Rolf Bösinger, State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance; Dr. Felix Klein, Federal Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Antisemitism; and Andy Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs at the American Jewish Committee. Also in attendance were top leaders of the Claims Conference, including former Israeli Knesset Member and Conference representative Colette Avital.
Speaking at the entrance to the campus, Eizenstat gave a moving address and shared how he personally influenced President Jimmy Carter to publicly light a Chabad menorah outside the White House, a watershed moment in the public recognition of Judaism in the United States.
President Carter became the first U.S. president to participate in a public menorah lighting. This historic event took place on December 17, 1979, when he lit the National Menorah in Lafayette Park, just across from the White House. Carter lit the Shamash, and his Jewish advisor, Eizenstat, recited the blessings and lit the rest of the candles.
Eizenstat also shared a personal memory of attending The Rebbe’s 30th leadership anniversary farbrengen in 1980, and praised the global impact of the Rebbe’s emissaries, particularly highlighting their work in Berlin.
A special moment during the visit came when a student named Miri told the story of the school’s remarkable growth: “Twenty years ago, we started with just one class of four children. Today, we’re over 400 students. It’s a living, breathing sign of the revival of Jewish life in Berlin.”
The visit concluded with a joyful and emotional performance by the kindergarten children — their songs and presence symbolizing the Jewish future in Germany.
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