The Festival of Lights is also a reminder of how Isaiah saw the Jewish people, as a light unto the nations.

The only way we live up to America's promise is if we value every single child, not just our own, and invest in every single child as if they're our own.

We can't wait for government to do it for us.

I see myself in these young people.

I call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Proudly practicing our religion, whatever it might be, and defending the rights of others to do the same—that's our common creed.

The story of Hanukkah, the story of the Jewish people, the story of perseverance—these are one and the same.

Ensuring that our young people can go as far as their dreams and hard work will take them is the single most important task that we have as a nation.

I want you to know you matter.

There's nothing, not a single thing, that's more important to the future of America than whether or not you and young people all across this country can achieve their dreams.

We knew this couldn't just be a Government initiative.

We shouldn't expect that we're going to solve these problems overnight, but we've got proof about what happens when you just give folks a little love and you act on that love.