American President George W. Bush this week honored the Jewish community with a special Chanukah party in the White House. Both the President and his wife were in attendance.
The party, held in the East Wing, was celebrated not too long after a section of the White House kitchen was made kosher, thus ensuring that kosher food could be served at the party and reception, which featured a performance by the Zamir Chorale.
The lighting of the menorah, an annual White House event since 2002, and the holiday party, were held in memory of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. The menorah was lit in an emotional ceremony by the slain reporter's parents, Judea and Ruth. The menorah was a special one: it belonged to Daniel Pearl's great-grandfather, Chaym Pearl, who brought it with him when he moved from Poland to Israel in 1924.
Religious freedom in the face of tyranny
In his remarks, President Bush related to the murder as another example of the Chanukah holiday t
Daniel Pearl's great-grandfather, Chaym Pearl, brought the menorah with him when he moved from Poland to Israel in 1924. 
heme of victorious struggle for religious freedom in the face of vicious tyranny.
Earlier in the day, the President met with Jewish immigrants from many different countries and declared the day as International Human Rights Day.
Missing was the military-uniformed classical string ensemble which performed at last year's reception, rendering a Bach Concerto and then seguing into the tune of “I Have a Little Dreidel."
The ceremony was attended by orthodox Jews, including 10 Lubavitch (Chabad) representatives.
It is not known if President Bush spun the dreidel, whose four letters stand for "a great miracle happened there," meaning the Temple Mount.