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.
âIn the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding,â he wrote. âNo one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had would last. But they survived and the oil kept burning.â
He continued, âDuring those eight days in hiding, they recited their prayers and continued their traditions. Thatâs why Hanukkah means dedication.â
Emhoff also claimed, âIt 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.â
However, contrary to Emhoffâs claims, a small group of Jewish warriors called the Maccabees, led by Jewish priest Judah Maccabee and his father Mattathias, âfought to defend their religious beliefsâ 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.
âCanât wait for Dougâs Christmas message about the meaning of Santaâs birth under a pine tree with three Magi riding reindeer,â one user joked.
Dave Rubin, host of conservative news talk show âThe Rubin Report,â stated Emhoffâs account of the story was ââtotally wrong.â Stick to your wife making up Kwanza stories from her childhoodâŚ,â he added.
The Daily Wire editor-in-chief Ben Shapiro mocked Emhoff, writing, âWait youâre telling me Doug Emhoff doesnât know anything about Judaism I canât believe it Iâm totally shocked Iâm stunn-.â
Author Ryan James Girdusky called Emhoffâs lack of knowledge âpretty embarrassingâ despite being âthe first Jewish spouse to a Vice President.â
https://twitter.com/RyanGirdusky/status/1734376283528646938
