Blog Posts Related to the American Jewish Community

Jack Lew Honors Aung San Suu Kyi

On Wednesday evening, White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew offered remarks at the presentation of the Elie Wiesel Award to Aung San Suu Kyi at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Tribute Dinner. In the speech, Lew spoke about his own experience as a young man and the importance of the work that Aung San Suu Kyi and the Museum do.

His full remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Good evening.

It is an honor for me to join such a distinguished group of speakers and guests this evening.  I’d also like to add my thanks to all of the board members, contributors, and staff who support the mission of the Holocaust Museum. And I know how much President Obama is looking forward to visiting the museum on Monday. 

My father was born in Poland, and his family left their small town at the end of World War I.

Many of his neighbors and relatives were not so lucky. And he made it here to America, a country where he did not need to live in fear. A country where even the son of an Eastern European immigrant could become Chief of Staff to the President of the United States. 

As a child, there were constant reminders of how lucky my family had been. I grew up in a neighborhood that was home to many Holocaust survivors, at a time when the Holocaust was something that just wasn’t talked about.  When peoples’ numbers showed on their arm, they would pull their sleeve down. 

It is amazing how much has changed.  Today, thanks in no small part to your work at the Holocaust Museum, the Holocaust is something we do talk about.  A child born in America today may never meet a Holocaust survivor, or even a veteran of World War II. But they will always know what happened, and be able to remember and honor those who lost their lives.

Celebrating Passover at the White House

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host a Passover Seder Dinner for family, staff and friends, in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, April 6, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Friday night, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted the annual White House Seder in the Old Family Dining Room. Led by current and past members of the Obama Administration, this tradition dates from the 2008 campaign.  The menu brought together recipes submitted to the White House Chefs from attendees and consisted of the traditional Passover delights; matzoh ball soup, gefilte fish, kugel, brisket, and plenty of passover sweets. 

In April of 2008, the President and his staff were on the trail in Pennsylvania in the midst of a long primary campaign. Weary from a long day of work and away from their families, a small group of staffers came together to hold an impromptu Seder. When then-Senator Obama got wind of the Seder, he gathered some other staff and friends and decided to join. At the end of the Seder, the President followed the traditional “Next year in Jerusalem” declaration with a pledge of his own - “Next year in the White House.” Each year since, he has followed through on that promise.

The Seder was like millions of others around the globe, complete with four cups of wine, bitter herbs, and the story of the exodus from bondage into freedom.  In a tradition begun last year, the assembled took turns reading from the emancipation proclamation at the conclusion of the seder.  This reading reminded all those assembled of the universal message and timeless nature of the holiday.

Jarrod Bernstein is the Director of Jewish Outreach in the Office of Public Engagement.

Recipe in Spotlight - Passover Chocolate Chip Mandel Broit

Editor's note: This post is part of a series spotlighting different family recipes used by members of the Obama Administration for Passover.

This is my mother’s recipe, and it was given to her by my preschool teacher when I was two years old. She has been making them ever since. The best part is that you can make a number of variations on this recipe. I make it using either raisins or dried cranberries, instead of the chocolate chips.