Eight years ago a group of Obama colleagues put on the a Passover seder for members of the Obama campaign staff. This was 203 years after another President, Thomas Jefferson , hosted the first Iftar* in the White House. Jefferson’s invitation to a Tunisian representative probably grew out of our third President’s reading of the Quran.
Sadly, Jefferson had little knowledge of Jewish tradition. Like most Europeans, the President demeaned Jews for what he saw as a denial of the good parts of the Jesus story .. nt the miracle but the respect for others and kindness to the poor. As a Jew I find it very hard to read Jefferson on this subject.
President Obama surprised the guests at that seder by attending and the White House has since had a seder every year. Presumably this reflects the Presisent’s knowledge of the seder as a symbol f freedom not just for Jews but for all people.