U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, hosted a Chanukah party on Sunday, December 18, the first night of Chanukah. Approximately 300 guests attended what’s believed to be the first official Chanukah gathering at the Vice President’s official residence in Washington, D.C.

The reception included esteemed guests, Jewish leaders, Jewish elected officials, Holocaust survivors and community activists. A Holocaust survivor recited the first bracha and lit the menorah, which came from the Jewish Museum in New York, and was made in Eastern Europe around the late 19th century.

Emhoff spoke about his own Chanukah traditions and helped light the menorah. He alluded to the recent rise in antisemitism and White House efforts in fighting it, including a meeting he hosted earlier this month with Jewish community leaders. “Anyone who is not speaking up and speaking out, and not taking action, needs to be called out,” said Emhoff. He also said that it’s the first time in history a Black woman and a Jewish man lit the menorah in the vice president’s residence. The residence had the mMenorah in the window, along with two mezuzahs hanging on the door of the entrance.

Guests enjoyed glatt kosher food and several flavors of jelly doughnuts that rivaled Israeli sufganiyot, all under the rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Chabad of Washington, D.C. A three-piece klezmer band performed throughout the night. All guests left with a party favor, a blue velvet bag with the vice presidential seal that held a dreidel that read “Happy Chanukah 2022.”

VP Harris posted a photo to Twitter of the menorah lighting along with the message, “Chanukah is a special time in our home. As we join millions worldwide in celebrating miracles, we remember that light will always triumph over darkness. From our family to yours, happy Chanukah.”