Seder at the White House / Seder b'beit h'levon

From the White House blog:

"President Obama hosts a traditional Seder dinner in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House on Thursday night, April 9, 2009. Some friends and White House employees and their families joined the Obama family. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)."

NB: to find out who was gathered around the Obama's seder table, see Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet's "Ma Nishtanah in the White House."

Tip o' the kippah to Jill at Writes Like She Talks for pointing out that the Obamas and their guests are using the trusty old Maxwell House Haggadah. Used by millions of American Jews over the years, the free Maxwell House Haggadah began in the early 1920s to promote Maxwell House coffee when it became certified Kosher for Passover.

The seder at the White House appears to have been a somber, respectful, traditional seder.

But maybe next year, the Obamas could join the trend and host a more playful, child-oriented seder. Then Sasha and Malia can enjoy acting out the 10 Plagues with plastic frogs, fake blood, sunglasses (darkness) and marshmallows (hail). Like my kids.

Sure, it's goofy. But we had a good time.

And I did set a very nice table, as my mother would have said, with the nice china and tulips from my own garden.