White House to kindle rare Czech menorah

A rare menorah on loan from the Jewish Museum in Prague will be lit during a special White House ceremony.

The museum handed over the rare menorah on Tuesday to Mary Thompson-Jones, chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in the Czech Republic.

It is set to be lit on the sixth night of Chanukah, Dec. 16, during a Chanukah event at the White House that is expected to draw about 500 guests.

First Lady Michelle Obama requested the loan, according to the museum, when she visited Jewish Town and the museum during an official visit to Prague by President Obama in April.

The menorah was created in 1873 by Viennese silversmith Cyril Schillberger and originally was dedicated most likely to the congregation in Prostějov, according to the museum.