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From Israeli gov’t speechwriter to Clinton NSC staffer Blinken, 1998

Middle East Trip - Menorah Lighting 12/98, from Anthony Blinken's Files, ca. 1994-1998, Records of the National Security Council Speechwriting Office (Clinton Admin.), ca.1993 -2001.Clinton Presidential Library. NARA ID 23903818. 

--Sixth in our first-ever 8 days of Hanukkah Tumblr series of surprising Hanukkah-related National Archives records. By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs--

Suggested Hanukkah joke, part of guidance from an Israeli gov’t speechwriter to Anthony Blinken, for President Clinton’s December 1998 visit to Israel:

President Clinton visited Israel four times during his two terms, and his 1998 visit overlapped with Hanukkah. Clinton Presidential Library records include this fascinating memo from Israeli gov’t speechwriter Jacob Maor to Clinton NSC staffer Anthony Blinken (12/3/1998).

Maor noted that the tremendous Israeli support for the President (after his “Shalom Haver” eulogy for Rabin) had dropped. Maor assured Blinken that these “anecdotes and humor” will help “recreate the warm loving attitude for your boss” and “will be highly appreciated by the Jewish people.”

SUGGESTED  Hanukkah “Ideas and humor”

For President Clinton’s 1998 Israel trip. From Jacob Maor to Anthony Blinken, 12/3/1998. Emphases added. 

* Make a joke about Hanukkah gelt! Suggestion: “Uncle Sam came to visit you [on] Hanukah, and is bringing you some Hanukah Money.”

* Use traditional Hanukkah greeting - “might have an effect like... ‘Shalom Haver.’ Great impact.”

* Relate the Middle East peace process to Hanukah symbolism!

Hanukkah is 8 days, Wye River Accord negotiations were 8 days!

The Wye Accord, like Hanukkah candles, brightens our world!

The peace process is like a dreidl - when it stops moving, it falls!

President Clinton is like the Shamash candle, the worker, “the servant of the Menorah.”

Israelis may need a broader perspective. Suggested wording: “sometimes it seems to me that you revolve around yourselves” like a  dreidl. 

EXTRA CREDIT!!!

* Note the Hebrew letters on the dreidl and cite David Ben Gurion: “In Israel, in order to be realistic, you have to believe in miracles.

Extra, extra credit: “You’ll surprise them even more, if you’ll note that he passed away exactly 25 years ago last week.”

*** Use the oil/falafel joke (top of post) at tonight’s candle lighting! Hag Hanukkah Sameach!  

FYI - in contrast to the tone of these suggestions, here’s President Clinton’s 1998 Hanukkah greeting:

ICYMI:

1st Night: 1956 patent application for an unusual menorah with cowboys, horses, tassels, and perhaps mistletoe.

2nd Night: 1926 Sefer Sipur Nes Hanukkah from Baghdad.

3rd Night: the White House Hanukkah party invite with a Xmas tree!

4th Night: mention of Hanukkah in the Rosenberg Trial Grand Jury testimony.