Friday, April 03, 2015

Obama To Host Annual White House Seder Tonight

Tonight, the first might of Passover, President Obama will continue his annual tradition of holding a Seder for a small group of family and friends at the White House.  Yesterday's Boston Globe recounts the origins of the White House tradition-- a makeshift Seder held in a hotel basement, put together by campaign staff during the 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic primary campaign. Now-Massachusetts State Senator Eric Lesser was one of those staffers.  He and a number other of those former staffers continue to attend each year.  As reported by The Hill, Obama sees the Seder as a way for his daughters to experience the Exodus story.  Over the years, the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation has been added as part of the White House's ceremony.