Next Year in the White House: A Seder Tradition

[Dale_M]

One evening in April 2008, three low-level staff members from the Obama presidential campaign — a baggage handler, a videographer and an advance man — gathered in the windowless basement of a Pennsylvania hotel for an improvised Passover Seder.

The day had been long, the hour was late, and the young men had not been home in months. So they had cadged some matzo and Manischewitz wine, hoping to create some semblance of the holiday.

Suddenly they heard a familiar voice. “Hey, is this the Seder?” Barack Obama asked, entering the room.

So begins the story of the Obama Seder, now one of the newest, most intimate and least likely of White House traditions. When Passover begins at sunset on Monday evening, Mr. Obama and about 20 others will gather for a ritual that neither the rabbinic sages nor the founding fathers would recognize.

nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/politics/28seder.html

 

[Catholic1954]

He pretends to be Christian, he pretends to (not) be Muslim, now he is pretending to be Jewish.

 

[foolishmortal]

audiosancto.org/sermon/20080928-Seder-Meals-Violate-the-1st-Commandment.html
We should do a service (not to replace any Mass) that looks more like what was done as Jesus and Apostles did the Last Supper, though a seder meal, done as a play (like the story of the first Passover), would not be like false worship. Just remember that Catholicism is the evolution of Judaism, so worshipping God in the pre-Christian way would be false worship. We can’t participate in non-Catholic regular or holy day services. Besides, the rite of Melchiezedek was the original Jewish service in the Bible, but no one’s reenacting that. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Maronite rite were the closest liturgy to The Last Supper than even the Latin Mass.
I bet Obama even has some self-hating Jews doing it with him. I don't think any real ones would care for his treatment of Israel.

 

[gamewell45]

He pretends to be Christian, he pretends to (not) be Muslim, now he is pretending to be Jewish.

Why should it be of concern to you anyway? I’m sure he doesn’t question your religious practices. IMHO questioning someones religious beliefs is really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Splinker]

He pretends to be Christian, he pretends to (not) be Muslim, now he is pretending to be Jewish.

On another thread people are going on and on about how great it is for christians to hold seders. So why give President Obama flack for attending one?

 

[twopekinguys]

Our parish holds a Seder meal. It is really quite moving.

 

[foolishmortal]

Moving? In what direction? Don’t be dragged around by your feelings. Feelings can be manipulated. Catholicism is the evolution of Judaism. It practically is Judaism, as it was meant to be (Eastern rite style’s probably closer). It has the priesthood God created to replace the old one and where Christ’s priesthood is, so is the faith He’s been guiding for 6000 years. Worshipping God, Passover-style, is worshipping as if Christ hasn’t saved us yet. That’s false worship. It was fine until he saved us. A play that reenacts the Passover is another thing. So is watching Jews do one. Those aren’t participation in false worship, with or without Jews.

 

[elts1956]

Moving? In what direction? Don’t be dragged around by your feelings. Feelings can be manipulated. Catholicism is the evolution of Judaism. It practically is Judaism, as it was meant to be (Eastern rite style’s probably closer). It has the priesthood God created to replace the old one and where Christ’s priesthood is, so is the faith He’s been guiding for 6000 years. Worshipping God, Passover-style, is worshipping as if Christ hasn’t saved us yet. That’s false worship. It was fine until he saved us. A play that reenacts the Passover is another thing. So is watching Jews do one. Those aren’t participation in false worship, with or without Jews.

I can’t believe this is for real. Not that I disapprove of a Sedar, but bo having a facsimile of one?

 

[nhylan]

Why are you all worked up about this? He’s not the first Christian to partake in a Seder and he wont be the last. Its called broadening ones horizons, just because you take part in it doesn’t mean you believe in it. This is such a silly topic.
K

 

[foolishmortal]

Lex orandi; lex credendi. All of a sudden, in the '60s, our clerics knew better than our true greats and look what’s happened. Some principled Catholics didn’t become the other faith and so they think everyone is so devout. The fact is, most Catholics are on life support (a failure to thrive by knowing their Faith) at all times in history, if not struggling financially or persecuted, and the plug was pulled by those who don’t realize it by V2 and then these “new faithful” who dress in modern fashions and participating in non-Catholic worship because they are self-motivated Catholics.

Who’s a real Christian? We all fall short of the glory of God. So, are you all going to a black mass to broaden your horizons? I’m not comparing it to a Seder, but the question is based on the premise that going to others’ services is expanding your horizons.

Lex orandi; lex credendi.

 

[elts1956]

Why are you all worked up about this? He’s not the first Christian to partake in a Seder and he wont be the last. Its called broadening ones horizons, just because you take part in it doesn’t mean you believe in it. This is such a silly topic.
K

I call him the poseur President. Jack of all religions and master of none. Nothing wrong as far as I am concerned about anyone taking part in a Sedar. It’s the person being advertised as being reverential that turns me off. His life is a sham, my opinion.