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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release December 23, 1997

PRESIDENT CLINTON LIGHTS THE 1997 HANUKKAH MENORAH

Today, the President will light a menorah in the Oval Office to celebrate the first night of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. President Clinton will be joined by 12 students from the Jewish Primary Day School of Adas Israel Synagogue, Washington, D.C. One student, Danny Lew, will assist the President in lighting the menorah.

The menorah that will be used in the Oval Office was made by Mayrim Baram, an Israeli whose son died in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Mr. Baram created the menorah in honor of President Clinton as a tribute to his efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. Mr. Baram's surviving son, Dr. Aatzia Baram, and daughter-in-law, Bonnie Baram-Belkin, will be in attendance.

The President, in his remarks, will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel which will be celebrated during 1998.

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