WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers held a Menorah lighting ceremony on Capitol Hill Tuesday to commemorate the beginning of Hanukkah next week. Last year marked the first-ever official Menorah lighting at the Capitol. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said this year’s Menorah is made from the shrapnel of rockets that were shot down by the IDF and then welded together by an Israeli artisan. “We all know that 2024 was a very difficult year for Jewish Americans,” Johnson said. “Yet in the face of vitriol and war, the Jewish people have shown unshakeable strength and optimism and resilience.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is the first Jewish Senate majority leader, emphasized the importance of holding onto hope during uncertain times. “Amid a rise in antisemitic attacks at home and abroad, we need to keep the flame of hope burning brighter, greater, more than ever,” Schumer said. “This Hanukkah let the light from the flame guide us towards unity in the face of division.” On Monday night, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted a Hanukkah reception at the White House. During remarks in the East Room, President Biden acknowledged the ongoing war in the Middle East. “I’ve gotten over 100 hostages out. I will not stop until I can get every single one of them home,” he said. “My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent-nation state remains ironclad.” President Biden and first lady Jill Biden displayed the first -ever permanent White House Menorah two years ago. It is made of original wood that was taken from the White House in 1950. “We display it again tonight to make clear that history and vibrancy of the Jewish life is woven into the fabric of America, every aspect of it,” Biden said. This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 25 and ends at sundown on Jan. 2.