About This Lesson
Join New York Times bestselling author, Richard Michelson for StoryMakers as he shares the story behind his non-fiction picture book, NEXT YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE which tells the tale of how a small Seder dinner on the campaign trail inspired Barack Obama to host the first ever Presidential Passover celebration in the White House. Richard also highlights the connection between Black and Jewish cultures, a theme explored in his book, MORE THAN ENOUGH, and discusses how we all can help make the world a better place in both small and big ways!
About the Book
The true story of how a small Seder dinner on the campaign trail inspired Barack Obama to bring the tradition into the White House and host the first ever Presidential Passover celebration.
In 1800, President John Adams held the first formal Christmas dinner at the newly built White House. In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes observed Easter with a public “Egg Roll.” But it wasn’t until 2009 that a US president officially celebrated Passover.
A year earlier, on the campaign trail, three staffers had to get creative in order to host a Seder dinner. They gathered in a hotel basement, joined by candidate Barack Obama. They made the most of their surroundings and modest dinner, shared the stories and rituals of the holiday, and found connections between their communities. They made a toast and a promise to a future, grander celebration: next year in the White House.
For the first time, this story is told for picture book readers by award-winning author Richard Michelson and lauded illustrator EB Lewis in this special partnership with PJ Library.
