NEXT YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE

The story of the first-ever White House Passover seder, celebrated by Barack Obama in 2009.

As the Obama family and their guests come together, staffers Herbie Ziskend, Eric Lesser, and Arun Chaudhary recall last year’s seder, an impromptu gathering held in a hotel basement while the then-senator was on the campaign trail. Like his staffers, Obama was homesick, tired, and struggling to maintain hope against the odds. As he and his family joined Herbie, Eric, and Arun in the ritual retelling of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt, they all reflected on how this age-old story still inspired many intertwined struggles for liberation. Obama found the experience so moving that he declared, “Next year in the White House!” The story then flashes forward to 2009 as Michelle Obama calls the event a modern-day miracle: “The descendants of enslaved people are now free to share a meal together in the White House, at the invitation of America’s first Black president.” This elegantly told, behind-the-scenes peek at a momentous historical occasion is simultaneously intimate and solemn, balancing a vision for a more inclusive America with an authentic portrayal of the meaning and rituals of Passover. Lewis’ sophisticated, impressionistic watercolors capture both a sense of grandeur and small moments of tenderness: Herbie, Eric, and Arun sitting in the dingy basement; first daughters Sasha and Malia and their dog Bo searching for the afikomen.

Essential reading for all children—and adults—who hope for freedom for all.