President Obama hosted an iftar, the breaking of the fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, for ambassadors of Muslim countries, a few cabinet and congressional figures, and some members of the American Muslim community. But then, so did George W. Bush for all eight years of his administration. President Obama's was politically significant though for two things: he honored an American schoolgirl who won the right to wear hijab (a headscarf), affirming America's freedom of religious practice in contrast to France's banning of the headscarf in schools and discrimination against the niqab (face veil) in public.
The other thing I found remarkable was a description of the menu listed on the a website that tracks the Obama's White House meals: the iftar started with dates and nuts, then salad, chicken with potato-leek puree- but no mention of dessert! What, no baklava or konafa? Or my favorite Om Ali? I hope it was just an oversight of the website, not the kitchen.