‘Next Year in the White House’: The Obama Seder

[babylonsister]

I just think this is so touching. Makes me verklempt!


‘Next Year in the White House’: The Obama Seder

Pete Souza/White House

Last year's Seder, a White House first, saw the Macaroon Security Standoff.

By JODI KANTOR
Published: March 26, 2010


WASHINGTON — One evening in April 2008, three low-level staff members from the Obama presidential campaign — a baggage handler, a videographer and an advance man — gathered in the windowless basement of a Pennsylvania hotel for an improvised Passover Seder.

Pete Souza/White House

Susan Sher, who is now Michelle Obama's chief of staff, at the White House Seder last year.

The day had been long, the hour was late, and the young men had not been home in months. So they had cadged some matzo and Manischewitz wine, hoping to create some semblance of the holiday.

Suddenly they heard a familiar voice. “Hey, is this the Seder?” Barack Obama asked, entering the room.

So begins the story of the Obama Seder, now one of the newest, most intimate and least likely of White House traditions. When Passover begins at sunset on Monday evening, Mr. Obama and about 20 others will gather for a ritual that neither the rabbinic sages nor the founding fathers would recognize.

In the Old Family Dining Room, under sparkling chandeliers and portraits of former first ladies, the mostly Jewish and African-American guests will recite prayers and retell the biblical story of slavery and liberation, ending with the traditional declaration “Next year in Jerusalem.” (Never mind the current chill in the administration’s relationship with Israel.)

Top aides like David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett will attend, but so will assistants like 24-year-old Herbie Ziskend. White House chefs will prepare Jewish participants’ family recipes, even rendering chicken fat — better known as schmaltz — for just the right matzo ball flavor.

If last year is any guide, Malia and Sasha Obama will take on the duties of Jewish children, asking four questions about the night’s purpose — along with a few of their own — and scrambling to find matzo hidden in the gleaming antique furniture.

That event was the first presidential Seder, and also probably “the first time in history that gefilte fish had been placed on White House dishware,” said Eric Lesser, the former baggage handler, who organizes each year’s ritual.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/politics/28seder.html?hp

[Warren DeMontague]

1. "I thought it was the Afikoman, but it's really a fossilized pair of Grover Cleaveland's underwear "

Seriously, that's cool. :thumbsup: ...even the gefilte fish, which I still find a little icky.

[handmade34]

2. I have tremendous respect

for all that Pres. Obama is trying to do. What delightful pictures that represent the best of what America can be.

[tishaLA]

3. yeah....steer clear of the gefilte fish, Mr President

Heebs like me avoid it like a ham and cheese sandwich. on white bread.

[DesertFlower]

10. i went to a seder years ago.

out of respect i tasted the gefilte fish. oy vey.

[Cassandra]

11. The only purpose of gefilte fish,

which I like, is to convey the horseradish into your mouth.

[Hekate]

13. My neighbor Sharon makes it from scratch and it's actually very good. I follow my MIL's recipe...

... and buy it in a jar, which neither looks nor tastes as good as Sharon's. Eh, it's only once a year.

Hekate

[JAbuchan08]

16. My mother once made gefilte fish

and I quite liked it.

The next time I had it I discovered that it was supposed to be served cold. Ugggh!

[Cha]

4. I'm right there verklempt with you,

babylonsister.

I love the Universality of President Obama and the reciprocal nuturing of friendships.

This is a wonderful tradition.. and to the White House they made it!

[NanceGreggs]

5. Wow!!!

Now that is a beautiful sight ...

[Hekate]

6. Tears in my eyes

thanks for the article, Babylonsister

[bluestateguy]

7. Are they doing it again this year?

nt

[Drunken Irishman]

9. Yup.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. This can't be true...Obama hates the Jews.

[boppers]

12. Annual Whitehouse Seder started under Clinton...

What makes this different is that the President is actually involved, rather than just WH staff. Pretty cool.

[Odin2005]

14. Cool!

[Danmel]

15. Real gefilte fish is actually good

The jarred stuff is smelly & inedible, but fresh, it is tasty.It is a lot of work to make fresh & time consuming, so people use the jars. If you are in an area with a sizable Jewish population, you may be able to find frozen loaves of gefilte fish which is vastly superior to the jarred stuff. Look for A &B or ungars.
Happy Passover to my fellow MoTs.