Mike Pence Mocked for Failed Hanukkah Message
Happy Hanukkah #HappyHanukkah
Former Vice President Mike Pence received some criticism on Monday after posting a tweet about Hanukkah that appeared to feature the wrong number of nights of the Jewish holiday.
“Happy Hanukkah! May the light that shines from every Menorah make the world a brighter and better place. @KarenPence and I wish all who are celebrating the Festival of Lights a wonderful Hanukkah!” Pence wrote in a tweet on Sunday afternoon.
The tweet featured a picture of a menorah that only had seven candles, but the Jewish holiday lasts for eight nights.
“The seventh and the eighth day of Hanukkah are a bit offended,” Jacob Kornbluh of news outlet the Forward wrote in response.
Shortly after Pence’s tweet, Laura E. Adkins, an opinion editor at the Forward, explained the difference between a menorah and a hanukkiah.
“Menorah: Typically 7 branches, used in the Temple and in the state emblem of Israel (see below),” Adkins wrote. “Hanukkiah: A 9-branched menorah used during Hanukkah. One central branch to hold the shamash (the candle with which you light the others) and 8 for the 8 days of Hanukkah.”
Everything To Know About Hanukkah: Traditions And History
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A number of other Twitter users also responded to Pence’s tweet, many including criticism of the former vice president.
“Mike, if you need your toes to count to eight, feel free,” wrote Twitter user Tod Goldberg, who identifies himself as a rabbi in his Twitter bio.
Twitter user Sam Hurwitt wrote, “The disrespect of showing an obviously wrong number of candles has to be intentional. It takes more work to get this wrong than to get it right. It’s their little way of saying ‘…but not really.'”
The American Jewish progressive activism organization IfNotNow wrote, “There’s really no better example of an evangelical Republican who claims love for Jews while actually using us than Mike ‘There are 6 Nights of Hanukkah’ Pence.”
Author Benjamin Dreyer wrote, “So we know that you don’t have any actual Jews on your social media team, nice work.”
Twitter user SportsAngle joked, saying, “Thanks, Mike Pence! Enjoy this wonderful 6-night celebration!”
Twitter user StrangeJim wrote, “D for effort. Hannukiot (plural for Hannukah candelabras) have 9 candles (8 for each night and 1 to light the other 8 – This is called the shamash which is also the name of the guy who lights the candles in the synagogue) BTW, this is easily found with 2 seconds of searching.”
Twitter user Ken Herman wrote “Nice try. Not a Hanukkah menorah.”
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Pence for comment.
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