{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://lamborn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1892", "Hanukkah 2016 Statement", "2016-12-24", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Doug Lamborn", "L000564", "lamborn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Lamborn extends best wishes for a Happy Hanukkah and urges all to remember its importance and miracles.\r\nWhile Hanukkah (Chanukah) is a Jewish celebration, it is an important memory for all of us.\u00a0 The Hanukkah story is a testimony to the fact that God keeps His people, and will never permit their enemies to destroy them.\u00a0\r\nThe Seleucid Greeks were not trying to kill the Jewish people; rather they were seeking to annihilate the very Jewish way of life - by denying and utterly destroying the practices that the people had covenanted with God to keep.\u00a0 In turn, the Seleucids sought to impose Hellenistic customs and practices on the Jewish people.\u00a0 \r\nIn refusing to bow to this oppression, domination, and conformity, the Jewish people revolted and were miraculously successful in pushing back the Seleucid armies; liberating many towns, villages, and eventually - the Holy Temple.\u00a0 Because the Holy Temple had been desecrated, it was necessary to rededicate it and make it fit for Divine use. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nAt the rededication of the Holy Temple there was not enough holy oil to burn continuously as the law proscribed; however, it was deemed best to light the menorah rather than wait the eight days necessary to make more holy oil.\u00a0 The miracle of the oil was that the menorah stayed lit the entire eight days.\r\n\"This time of year is often a time of reflection, and a time of making commitments for the New Year.\u00a0 May we be thankful for our religious freedom as Americans, and the opportunity we have as a Nation and people to worship without fear.\u00a0 May we also consider rededicating ourselves for purposes that are higher than our own and to be true lights to the world.\"\u00a0- Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://lamborn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1892"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.036552945151925, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}