JPost: US President Barack Obama will celebrate Passover Thursday night with staff and friends in what is believed to be the first White House Seder attended by an American president.
The event was slipped onto the president's public schedule Tuesday night with little fanfare, following a letter signed by Obama earlier in the day wishing Americans who mark the day a "peaceful and relaxing holiday."
While presidential proclamations in honor of Passover have been common throughout the administrations of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, this year's Seder is believed to be the first of its kind.
"I'm really happy to hear about it," said Steve Rabinowitz, who once led a staff Seder in the Clinton White House but didn't know of any White House Seder in which the president had personally taken part before now. "It's been an extremely open White House to all faith communities, certainly including ours."
On the menu:
'The White House says the seder meal will be traditional, including matzo, bitter herbs, a roasted egg and greens in the family dining room in the executive mansion. The evening will feature the reading of the Haggadah, the religious text of the holiday. Passover began at sundown Wednesday. It celebrates the Jewish exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. White House aides say they believe this is the first president-hosted seder at the White House. President Bill Clinton's aides planned seders, but Clinton isn't known to have attended. Obama's move won quick praise from the National Jewish Democratic Council. 'By hosting the first presidential seder in America's history, President Barack Obama shows the personal and deep relationship he has with the Jewish community,' said Alexis C. Rice, the group's deputy executive director. 'There is no question, Obama is a true friend of the Jewish community.' Politico
