WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama invited close friends and staff to a private White House meal yesterday to mark Passover, a signal that the new president intends to fulfil his promise that Jewish voters would have an ally.

Among the guests invited were Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama's closest advisors and family friend Eric Whitaker, who was to visit from Chicago and had last year attended a seder. Michelle Obama and the family's two daughters planned to attend.

The staff guest list also included aides from the campaign trail who marked last year's Passover at the Sheraton hotel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Obama's personal aide, Reggie Love, Michelle Obama's deputy chief of staff, Melissa Winter, personal aide Dana Lewis and associate social secretary Samantha Tubman all received invitations.