Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, was slammed after he retold the story of Hanukkah falsely.
On Monday, Emhoff, 59, posted the story on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post has since been deleted.
“In the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding,” he wrote. “No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had would last. But they survived and the oil kept burning.”
He continued, “During those eight days in hiding, they recited their prayers and continued their traditions. That’s why Hanukkah means dedication.”
Emhoff also claimed, “It was during those dark nights that the Maccabees dedicated themselves to maintaining hope and faith in the oil, each other, and their Judaism. In these dark times, I think of that story.”
However, contrary to Emhoff’s claims, a small group of Jewish warriors called the Maccabees, led by Jewish priest Judah Maccabee and his father Mattathias, “fought to defend their religious beliefs” against the Seleucid Empire ruled by Antiochus IV. Antiochus forbade Jews from practicing their faith and defiled the Second Temple in Jerusalem, according to Brittanica.
The Maccabees were victorious and rededicated the temple. During the rededication, there was only a small jar of consecrated oil to keep the menorah lit for a day.
However, miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, and more oil was later attained. This is the reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and eight nights.
Users on X criticized Emhoff for retelling the story of Hannakuh wrong.
“Can’t wait for Doug’s Christmas message about the meaning of Santa’s birth under a pine tree with three Magi riding reindeer,” one user joked.
Dave Rubin, host of conservative news talk show “The Rubin Report,” stated Emhoff’s account of the story was “‘totally wrong.’ Stick to your wife making up Kwanza stories from her childhood…,” he added.
The Daily Wire editor-in-chief Ben Shapiro mocked Emhoff, writing, “Wait you’re telling me Doug Emhoff doesn’t know anything about Judaism I can’t believe it I’m totally shocked I’m stunn-.”
Author Ryan James Girdusky called Emhoff’s lack of knowledge “pretty embarrassing” despite being “the first Jewish spouse to a Vice President.”
