White House drops Christian dating for Jewish proclamation

The White House, in the midst of an intense charm offensive aimed at the Jewish and pro-Israel communities, has dropped an archaic phrase that has, in the past, rankled Jewish groups.

The use of the proclamation boilerplate "in the year of our Lord" for a celebration of Jewish Heritage Month had struck a slightly off-key note for Jewish groups in Obama's last proclamation, as in those of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

This year, the phrase has been replaced by the simple phrase, "in the year two thousand ten.”

Steven Freeman, an official at the Anti-Defamation League, tells Andrew Silow-Carroll that "we see it as a welcome, sensitive, and attentive gesture," though it doesn't seem ever to have been a major bone of contention.

And regardless of the phrase employed, the year is still calculated from the birth of Christ, after all.

If Obama was really a Muslim, would he do things any differently?

And, in April last year, the White House directed Georgetown University to cover up part of crucifix, including the initials that indicate he is “King of the Jews” -- that were visible above the podium where Obama was scheduled to speak.