White House Seder, Holy Week Begins, Muslim Superheros

March 25, 2013 Subscribe · Forward How Is The White House Seder Different From All Others? By Devra Ferst The Jewish Daily Forward For a president of the United States, the personal is inevitably political. But there is one annual event at the White House that truly is personal for its current chief resident -- or at least as personal as anything can be in the most watched building in the country. President Obama's upcoming Passover Seder, scheduled for March 25, will host just 20 or so participants this year -- more or less the same core crowd that has been attending it since 2008, when three young staffers began the tradition while on the campaign trail and then-senator Obama surprised them by dropping in. In many ways, this presidential Seder resembles that of many families, if you can look past portraits of former first ladies adorning the walls, the elegant crystal chandelier hanging over the guests' heads and the White House china on which the gefilte fish is being served. The Haggadah of choice is Maxwell House, and the Passover fare is traditional, featuring classics like matzo ball soup, brisket and kugel.  Continue reading... Muslim Superhero Tournament Final Four - VOTE NOW! Passover: Love Is Revolution Cleaning Out The Leaven On Passover -- In Body And Spirit How Long Will Pope Francis' Honeymoon Last? Two Popes Have Historic Meeting Obama Makes Pilgrimage To Jesus' Birthplace Obama, Israel And Holy Week Coming Out At A Christian College 10 Things Church Can Learn From Geeks What If The Kids Don't Want Our Church? Sister Warriors Create A Miracle SCOTT THUMMA, PH.D. Racial Diversity Increasing In U.S. Congregations If heaven is going to include all races, it's encouraging to see our faith communities beginning to reflect that reality in the present. Continue reading... CHIEF RABBI LORD SACKS Sharing the Bread of Affliction: Passover and the Hidden Meaning of Freedom Freedom is not simply the ability to choose to do whatever we like so long as we do not harm others. It is born in the sense of solidarity that leads those who have more than they need to share with those who have less. Continue reading... TOBIAS WINRIGHT Pope Francis, Saint Peter and the Other Just as God's Spirit surprised Saint Peter by leading him to the Gentiles and showing him that they too can be God's people, so too perhaps God's Spirit is gently nudging Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and indeed all of us to be similarly surprised by the Other. Continue reading... DANIELLE NIERENBERG 5 Ways to Make Your Passover Seder More Sustainable This week marks the Jewish holiday of Passover. Here are five tips to help observers to celebrate this important holiday while keeping in line with their equally important environmental values. Continue reading... JENNIFER KNAPP Acknowledging Faith Voices Crucial for LGBT Civil Rights We often confuse those who speak from lofty perches as having earned the authority to speak for the many, when if fact, they were probably just the first to grab the microphone. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here. Unsubscribe here. Huffington Post, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003