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 had the honor last week of attending four official Chanukah candle-lighting events. In addition to hobnobbing with government officials and political VIPs, and chatting with Jewish leaders about important issues facing the community, I was struck by how the Jewish community is perceived by the various hosts.

So, for example, the candle-lighting ceremony at the White House reflected the very close relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, both in the atmosphere as well as the guest list. The event at the Polish Embassy was likewise indicative of the rapprochement in Polish-Israeli ties in the last year and a half — a result of Netanyahu’s efforts to recruit members from the eastern bloc of the European Union to support Israel and act as a counterweight to anti-Israel resolutions at the EU.

Monday, December 3, 2nd night of Chanukah, 6 p.m., Connecticut Avenue NW

This wasn’t my first invitation to the annual Chanukah party put on by the media and marketing advisors Steve Rabinowitz and Aaron Keyak, operators of Bluelight Strategies. Now a Washington tradition, this year’s event, called “Latkes and Vodka,” was held in Steve and Aaron’s new offices in the Van Ness neighborhood. This is truly where you rub shoulders with a Who’s Who of Jewish Washington, including Politico editor Joanne Kenen, JTA Washington correspondent Ron Kampeas, Mishpacha contributor Tevi Troy, Israeli researcher Dan Arbel, and senior vice president of the Jewish Federations of North America William Daroff. My only regret was that I couldn’t eat the doughnuts.

Monday, December 3, 2nd night of Chanukah, 7 p.m., Whitehaven St. NW Washington

I quickly hailed a cab to the Polish Embassy to make it in time for the second event of the evening, a joint candle-lighting ceremony by the Israeli and Polish embassies, marking 70 years of Israeli and 100 years of Polish independence. Ties between the two countries have improved greatly in the last year and a half, as evinced by this event, with the participation of the two ambassadors, journalists from both countries, and activists from organizations such as the Zionist Organization of America, the Orthodox Union, and others.

While a Polish choir sang a mix of old and new songs, the crowd began to gather in the small hall in the ambassador’s residence. After lighting a menorah that had survived the Holocaust, both ambassadors spoke. Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the United States, praised the countries and their religions, in a speech that rang a nationalist tone. He concluded his remarks with the hope that next year a Polish ambassador might light a menorah at the new Polish embassy in Jerusalem.

After that surprise statement, I wasted no time in asking Polish ambassador Piotr Wilczek if there was something we didn’t know. “Are there plans for the embassy to be transferred to Jerusalem?” Unlike Dermer, the ambassador was vague and noncommittal. “Currently, the Polish government has no such plan. We are aware of these hopes and requests, but this is a complicated diplomatic issue. I am not surprised by what he said, but I have nothing to add.”

“I hope this isn’t a dream and that it will actually happen,” said Tom Rose, a Jewish, kippah-wearing confidant of Mike Pence, and former CEO of the Jerusalem Post. “Current American policy is to encourage all countries to transfer their embassies to Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish nation. Exactly one year ago today, President Trump made his historic announcement asserting this historic truth. The US believes that peace must be based on facts.”

Thursday, December 6, 5th night of Chanukah, 8 p.m., 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Outside, the White House flag flew at half-staff in memory of the late George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. But inside, hundreds of Jewish community members gathered for the White House Chanukah party, a festive occasion that included so many guests this year that one party was split into two. This is where the biggest Jewish names in Washington could be seen, everyone from heavy-duty Republican party philanthropists Sheldon Adelson and Ivanka and Jared Trump, to executive director of the Orthodox Union Nathan Diament. Much-in-the news Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was also there, as was Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

If the guest list at last year’s event could be described as mainly Republican and/or Orthodox, this year there was a bit more diversity. In fact, the Trump White House invited every Jewish member of Congress to the event. Those spotted included Republican representatives David Kustoff of Tennessee and Lee Zeldin of New York, and Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri. From the other side of the aisle, lawmakers in attendance included Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, and Rep. (and new governor-elect) Jared Polis of Colorado.

But don’t be fooled, all the guests were Trump-friendly. Several people were even wearing Trump kippahs and scarves. There was also an Orthodox beat to the event as the Orthodox boys’ choir Y’Studs serenaded the crowd.

When President Trump made an appearance, the crowd erupted in loud, rhythmic shouts of “Trump! Trump! Trump!” The president riled up the party goers further with mention of the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem and the cancelation of the Iran deal. In a lighter moment, someone cried out, “Four more years!” to which a surprised Trump replied, “It’s six, actually.”

Motzaei Shabbos, December 8, 7th night of Chanukah, 7 p.m., Massachusetts Avenue

The event at the Indian embassy was, in my eyes, the most intriguing, not only because it’s a 16-year-old tradition but because it was dedicated to the Jewish community in India, which I admittedly know little about.

The embassy is housed in an impressive 18th-century building, and features a gallery of historic photos, such as first lady Eleanor Roosevelt visiting India, former presidents George H.W. Bush. and Bill Clinton visiting the embassy, and Hellen Keller’s visit to India in 1921.

A menorah with oil lights, placed in the center of the lobby, was lit by representatives of the Washington Jewish community. I saw Rabbi Hyim Shafner, rabbi of the Orthodox Kesher Israel shul in Washington; representatives from respected research institutes, like Hudson Institute, and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; and lobbyist and consultant Jason Epstein.

Israel and India have made great strides in their relationship this year, with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi making a historic visit to Israel and Netanyahu reciprocating. Both countries stand to gain by the relationship. As one of those present pithily pointed out, “Together, the Indian and Jewish nations comprise a sixth of the world population.”

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 739)