Beam of Light
The Story of the First White House Menorah
Penguin Young Readers Group · Print & ebook · October 15, 2024
The first piece of Judaica in the White House's permanent holiday collection was introduced for Hanukkah in 2022.
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- Who it’s for
- A picture book traces how reclaimed White House wood became the official menorah introduced in 2022.
- Themes
- Jewish heritage and resilience, White House history, Renewal and new purpose
- Genres
- Hanukkah, Judaism for Kids, Symbols & Monuments
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Start with this bookAbout this book
The first piece of Judaica in the White House's permanent holiday collection was introduced for Hanukkah in 2022. This lovely picture book tells the history and importance of its creation. The official White House menorah is a symbol of strength and perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. It was created from a piece of reclaimed wood salvaged during a Truman-era renovation of the building.
Continue reading
That beam of White House wood sat in storage for seventy years, through thirteen different presidents. It might have been destroyed, but instead it waited for its new purpose. And so, in 2022, it was transformed into a menorah that will shine its beams of light every year, celebrating the resilience and permanence of Jewish people in America and abroad.
White House Menorah
A picture book traces how reclaimed White House wood became the official menorah introduced in 2022.
Come here for
- The reclaimed White House beam’s journey from Truman-era renovation to menorah
- The menorah’s place in the White House’s permanent holiday collection
Expect
- A history of the menorah’s creation
- Its meaning as a symbol of Jewish resilience and permanence
Where it sits
| Hanukkah | 91% |
|---|---|
| Judaism for Kids | 81% |
| Symbols & Monuments | 76% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Symbols & Monuments
- Hanukkah
- Civics & Government
- Authors
- Elisa Boxer
- Publisher
- Penguin Young Readers Group
- Published
- October 15, 2024
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Jewish heritage and resilience · White House history · Renewal and new purpose
- Reading lane
- Symbols & Monuments