Last Friday, September 30, 2022, I went to the White House in Washington, DC. to attend the first-ever White House High Holidays reception.! My role was to support and manage the logistics for violinist Itzhak Perlman‘s breathtaking performance.
It was a quick trip but worth it.
Friday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Perlman and I arrived at the White House at 11 AM. As we walked between the first two security gates, we saw POTUS leave the White House campus in a motorcade. There were at least 10 black SUV’s in the motorcade. I was told by our escort that POTUS rode n the second one.
President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, referred to as the “four principles,” were on their way to see Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson formally sworn in.
Members of the Supreme Court with the President (L-R) Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Associate Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Patrick G. Jackson, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Elena Kagan, and Brett M. Kavanaugh pose at a courtesy visit in the Justices Conference Room before the investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
It’s interesting to note Justice Sonia Sotomayor was diagnosed with T1D at only 7 years old. Since putting on the black judicial robe, she’s been working to raise diabetes awareness —intentionally and as a byproduct of being on the bench.
After the ceremony, the four principals returned to the White House for a quick photo op with Mr. and Mrs. Perlman before the first-ever White House High Holidays reception began. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff – the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president in U.S. history – delivered remarks after the First Lady and then the President.
At the end of the speeches, our Administration wished everyone, including the 250 VIP’s from the Jewish Community, a happy and healthy new year.
Since Mr. Perlman was a surprise guest, he did not go into the Gold Room where the speeches were given. Mr. and Mrs. Perlman and I watched it on screen in the Green Room.
Backstage, I witnessed the First Lady pat the Second Gentleman on the back after he gave his speech and hugged him. The President reached for the VP’s hand and grasped it. She smiled at him.
Itzhak Perlman gave a short speech before his performance n the main foyer about the piece he was performing. He explained to the crowd that it had been performed in many styles, but he would perform it the way he heard it as a child in Israel. He performed “Avinu Malkeinu,” a well-known High Holy Day prayer begging God, “our father, our king,” for the forgiveness of sin, to thunderous applause. He played the piece on his 1714 Soil Stradivarius, known as the “Mona Lisa” of musical instruments, crafted by Antonio Stradivari at the peak of his golden period. Enjoy a snippet of Itzhak Perlman’s in the video below:
Immediately following Itzhak Perlman’s performance was a reception. We chose not to stay, but my eyes feasted on the spectacular abundance of food on the table.
I was amazed to see how much the four principles accomplish in one day. Their teams (each with an entourage) were courteous, helpful, friendly, and professional.
It was an unforgettable experience! And a great way to celebrate the success of Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On the Menu, available on demand.
In Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat. Everything seems low pressure and low calorie until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation!
Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Or will he be trading his fruit suit for coveralls with stripes?
Weight loss murder never tasted so good.
Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Special thanks to our colleague, the multi-talented Wendy Radford.
Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.
“Shana tova u Metukah!”
This is s a greeting during Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe meaning “a good and sweet year“.
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