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WASHINGTON (JTA) — Throughout a closely-watched press convention with Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymr Zelensky, President Joe Biden introduced up the Hanukkah story, evaluating Ukraine’s wrestle towards Russia to the Maccabees’ rebellion.
“Tonight is the fourth night time of Hanukkah,” Biden stated Wednesday standing subsequent to Zelensky, who was on a last-minute go to to Washington to talk to Congress and attraction for the approval of extra help for Ukraine. It was Zelensky’s first international journey for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion in February.
“A time when Jewish individuals world wide, President Zelensky and plenty of households amongst them, honor the timeless miracle of a small band of warriors preventing for the values and their freedom towards a a lot bigger foe and the way they endured and the way they overcame,” Biden continued. “How the flame of religion with solely sufficient oil for someday burned brightly for eight days. The story of survival and resilience that reminds us on the coldest day of the yr, that gentle will at all times prevail over darkness.”
It was a message that Zelensky himself struck in a message to Ukrainians simply earlier than the beginning of the vacation on Sunday.
“Congratulations to the Jewish group of Ukraine and all of the Jews of the world on Hanukkah. Those that had been outnumbered defeated those that outnumbered them. Mild defeated darkness. It is going to be the identical this time,” he stated on the finish of an extended video replace in regards to the standing of the conflict. He completed in Hebrew: “Chag Hanukkah Sameach.”
Biden’s feedback echoed a comparability between Zelensky and Judah Maccabee, the hero of the Hanukkah story, that emerged early on in Ukraine’s defensive conflict. “Zelensky offers trendy Maccabee power,” one author wrote on the time.
Associated: 18 issues to learn about Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s Jewish president
Biden, together with Democrats in Congress and quite a few Senate Republicans, needs to cross a $1.7 trillion spending invoice earlier than Congress adjourns on the finish of the yr, fearing that after Republicans assume management of the U.S. Home of Representatives they may stymie spending. Among the many expenditures opposed by Home Republicans is $45 billion earmarked for Ukraine.
The $1.7 trillion bundle unveiled this week additionally contains $3.8 billion in protection help for Israel and $305 million for safety grants for nonprofits, a rise from $180 million. Jewish teams lobbied for the rise in nonprofit help, saying it was wanted within the wake of a perceived enhance in violent antisemitic assaults.
The Biden administration has had quite a few Hanukkah celebrations this yr, utilizing them as a platform to denounce antisemitism.
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