Second gentleman Doug Emhoff became the first-ever husband to a vice president. That also makes him the first-ever Jewish spouse of a vice president. In 2021, times were very different. Jewish households were forced to change traditions and had to take the celebration of Passover virtual. He declared it “a moment of many firsts,” and he wasn’t wrong. He live-streamed an event for the masses, which hundreds of people attended.
Below, we’ll look at how he pulled off the monumental celebration and whether he’ll host something similar in 2022.
What’s Passover?
Passover will run from the 15th of April until the 23rd of this year. It’s one of the most celebrated holidays on the Jewish calendar that remembers the exodus of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Read the full explanation here.
His Revolutionary Idea
The Emhoff household seems to be one for breaking records – the Passover celebration also paid tribute to his wife, vice president Kamala Harris. Vice president Kamala is the first Black and South Asian person to hold the position. But, more importantly to Emhoff, it recognized his status as the first Jewish spouse of a vice president.
The tradition of hosting Passover celebrations is one that Obama started and hasn’t returned since. That all changed when he laid his seder table, prepared his seder plate, and went live with 34,000 people. He told ecstatic viewers how Passover has always been his favorite holiday – he recalled how he would go to his grandma’s for the seder in Brooklyn.
That’s a tradition every practicing Jew will have fond memories of – Passover has always been a family celebration to remember the suffering of Jews in Egypt while enslaved by the Pharaoh.
What Usually Happens During Passover
What usually happens at Passover isn’t too far from the virtual celebration Emhoff created. Jewish households gather with their family and friends, read from the Haggadah, and eat traditional Passover foods.
Passover foods you’ll find on the seder plate include; zeroa (shank bone, not consumed), beitzah (egg), maror (bitter herbs), karpas (vegetables), haroset (sweet paste).
Passover foods typically consumed at a seder meal include; geflite fish, matzo ball soup, beef brisket, potatoes, and chicken. There’s also the rule not to eat anything leavened like bread. But, Jewish people can drink no more than four glasses of wine at a seder meal.
Will Doug Emhoff Do The Same In 2022?
Doug Emhoff will likely host a Passover celebration at the Whitehouse this year – but there hasn’t been an official confirmation. He is a passionate and religious man with high morals and Jewish values, so it’s unlikely that he won’t be allowed to host a celebration now covid restrictions have ended. It’ll be nice to see an official Passover celebration and recognition of the Jewish community within the Whitehouse again.
Passover is an exciting time of the year, and it’s only a few weeks away. Jewish communities worldwide, not just the Whitehouse, will soon begin preparing for the celebration. Do you have any Passover plans this year?
