President Obama Will Host Seder On First Night Of Passover 2012

 UPDATE: CLICK HERE for the post about the 2012 Presidential Seder
President Obama will join Jewish Americans across the nation in marking the start of Passover next Friday, April 6th, the White House announced today. Joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, the President will host the fourth Seder of his Administration. (Above: The President is served matzoh ball soup at the 2011 Seder)

On Wednesday April 4, President Obama will host an Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House, his third such event. Also on Wednesday, Mrs. Obama will visit the Fisher House at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children. Mrs. Obama "will join them for craft activities and bring them Easter treats from the White House Pastry Shop," the East Wing said.  On Monday, April 9th the First Family will host the largest event on the Presidential social calendar: The annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This year's theme is “Let's Go! Let's Play! Let's Move!"

The 2011 Seder...
Last year, the First Family held their Seder in the Old Family Dining Room. They were joined by twelve guests, including Eric Lesser and Arun Chaudhary, two of the three aides who started the tradition in the basement of a hotel on the 2008 campaign trail, during the Pennsylvania Primary. (Above: The President and guests dip fingers in wine during the reading of the Haggadah)

The White House chefs cooked most of the dishes from recipes provided by attending guests, including traditional Passover favorites: Chicken soup with matzoh balls, braised beef brisket, potato kugel, carrot soufflé, and matzoh chocolate cake. The recipes were "not strictly kosher but kosher style," according to a White House aide.

The reading was from the Maxwell House Haggadah, a plain-language edition in use in America for more than 70 years. Guests included the President's body man, Reggie Love, who has now departed the White House, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, and friends from Chicago.

*Photos by Pete Souza/White House