{"id":1349,"date":"2009-04-09T15:50:39","date_gmt":"2009-04-09T15:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/news\/2009\/04\/obama-invites-friends-aides-to.php"},"modified":"2009-04-09T15:50:39","modified_gmt":"2009-04-09T15:50:39","slug":"obama-invites-friends-aides-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2009\/04\/obama-invites-friends-aides-to","title":{"rendered":"Obama Invites Friends, Aides to Seder Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON – Barack Obama is inviting close friends and staff to a private White House meal Thursday to mark Passover, part of the new president’s effort to reach out to Jewish voters.
\nAmong the invited is Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama’s closest advisers, and family friend Eric Whitaker, who is visiting from Chicago and attended a seder last year with the campaign. First lady Michelle Obama and the family’s two daughters also plan to attend.
\nThe staff guest list includes aides from the campaign trail who marked last year’s Passover at the Sheraton hotel in Harrisburg, Pa. Obama’s personal aide, Reggie Love; Michelle Obama’s deputy chief of staff, Melissa Winter; personal aide Dana Lewis and associate social secretary Samantha Tubman all received invitations.
\nAlso on the guest list are Eric Lesser, a personal aide to senior adviser David Axelrod, and his family. Lesser worked during the New Hampshire primary and later handled baggage for traveling reporters. White House videographer Arun Chaudhary – a constant presence on the trail – landed invitations for his family.
\nOthers in the exclusive group include Michelle Obama’s counsel and friend Susan Sher; Herbie Ziskend, a staff assistant to Vice President Joe Biden’s policy and economic advisers; and White House deputy director of advance and special events Lisa Kohnke.
\nTwo of the administration’s highest-profile members of the Jewish faith will miss the dinner. Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel doesn’t plan to attend and Axelrod expects to be in Chicago with his family.
\nThe 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.
\nPassover began at sundown Wednesday. It celebrates the Jewish exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery.
\nWhite 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.
\nObama’s move won quick praise from the National Jewish Democratic Council.
\n“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.
\nAssociated Press – April 9, 2009
\nCopyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON – Barack Obama is inviting close friends and staff to a private White House meal Thursday to mark Passover, part of the new president’s effort to reach out to Jewish voters. Among the invited is Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama’s closest advisers, and family friend Eric Whitaker, who is visiting from Chicago and attended…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nObama Invites Friends, Aides to Seder Dinner<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2009\/04\/obama-invites-friends-aides-to\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Obama Invites Friends, Aides to Seder Dinner\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"WASHINGTON – Barack Obama is inviting close friends and staff to a private White House meal Thursday to mark Passover, part of the new president’s effort to reach out to Jewish voters. 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