White House in Hanukkah party flap

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama has issued a Hanukkah message, while controversy continues over an upcoming White House holiday party, officials said.

In a statement issued Friday, the president and first lady Michelle Obama sent "warmest wishes to all who are celebrating Hanukkah around the world."

But a Hanukkah party in the State Room next Wednesday has generated some criticism over the size of the guest list and the wording of the invitation, The New York Times reported.

Some are disturbed that the guest list for the president's party is smaller than at Hanukkah parties in the Bush administration.

An Israeli newspaper ran a headline, "Obama downsizes Hanukkah in the White House," the Times said.

The party invitations also raised some eyebrows because they omitted the word "Hanukkah," referring only to "a holiday reception" on Dec. 16.

But Rabbi Levi Shemtov, tasked with making sure the White House kitchen is kosher for the party, called it a tempest in a teapot, the Times said.

"This is all one big overblown latke," Shemtov said. "I feel that we need to save our communal kvetching in reserve for when it's more called for and really matters."