By COLlive reporter
U.S. President Barack Obama received a delegation of Chabad – Lubavitch leaders in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday afternoon.
The delegation visited in connection with Education and Sharing Day, USA, which was proclaimed earlier this month in honor of the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory.
President Obama received the delegation warmly, and discussed the shared values of the education as the essential builder of character rather than the mere transmission of knowledge – a core teaching of the Rebbe.
The President also stressed his effort at fighting anti-Semitism and hate and told how he is concerned about this issue, particularly in Europe, and raises this matter whenever he meets world leaders.
“We were pleased to be invited to meet with the President, and reiterate our determination to fulfill the Rebbe’s mission of bolstering education and awareness in every possible way,” said Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of the Executive of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella organization of the international Chabad – Lubavitch movement, who led the delegation.
“In these times, this need for education, and understanding its essential role in the formation of character, as our Rebbe taught, cannot be overemphasized. Education and Sharing Day provides a unique opportunity to refocus our attention on this.”
The international Chabad-Lubavitch movement is the world’s largest network of Jewish educational, social service and outreach organizations – with over 4,000 affiliates in 49 states and more than 80 countries.
Rabbi Shemtov also shared with the President the Rebbe’s view that the situation in Israel must be viewed through the context of history going back to our patriarch, Abraham, to gain a deeper understanding of the matter.
Finally, he shared with the President how there are moments when the ultimate decisions by a leader must be made, and they can seem lonely. “But those are not mere lonely moments, as the Almighty is there with the one who must make the decisions.”
The delegation included Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) – Washington, DC, and two board members of Agudas Chassidie Chabad – Rabbi Moshe Herson, Dean of the Rabbinical College of America – Morristown, NJ, Rabbi Israel Shmotkin, Regional Director of Chabad Lubavitch of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI.
This year’s proclamation was focused on the education of women and representing that theme was Rebbetzin Chave Hecht, a senior female educator in the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, who has taught and mentored thousands of Jewish women and girls for over 70 years, and Rabbi Yossy Gordon, Executive Vice President of the Chabad on Campus International Foundation.
Representing the President’s home state of Illinois was Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz.
YOUNG REPRESENTATION
Joining the meeting were also the highest ranking members of Tzivos Hashem, the world’s foremost organization for Jewish children, founded by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1981.
Menachem Mendel Benjaminson, 11, of Morristown, New Jersey and Chaya Mushka Goldstein, 11 of Ann Arbor, MI, were both addressed by the President as “General”, their “rank” in the corp.
The President appreciated how they have achieved their high rank – through many missions of learning and Jewish community service deeds of goodness and kindness.
As the delegation departed, a White House official remarked “That was a profound meeting. I have been in many of these, and this one was really special.”
The President presented the delegation with a framed copy of the 2015 Proclamation declaring the Rebbe’s birthday “Education and Sharing Day, USA” and was in turn presented by the delegation with a silver menorah, symbolizing light in the face of darkness.
“We were honored to be invited to the Oval Office to visit with the President, and delighted at how he was so engaged and sensitive to our discussion,” said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).
Official photos of the meeting have not been released yet by the White House Press Office.
TRIBUTE TO NEPAL
Just before heading to the White House, the delegation stopped by the Embassy of Nepal, which neighbors the Chabad-Lubavitch Center in Washington, DC, to offer condolences and support in light of the recent earthquake which has claimed thousands of lives.
The Charge D’Affaires (the new ambassador is due to arrive next week) at the embassy thanked them for their good wishes and prayers, reminding all of the wonderful relationship with the Nepalese people enjoyed by the Jewish community who live and visit there.
Chabad in Nepal, led by Rabbi Chezky and Chani Lifshitz, maintains a robust operation in that country, including what is regarded as the world’s largest Passover seder which draws thousands every year.
Mrs B Hecht is mother of Reb Chanchi G of Ann Arbor MI and bubby of CM Goldstein the young girl. Thus 4 generations shluchim
IF ITS Baila(sufrin) then she is mother in law to Goldstein
We are so proud of U dear Chaya and Chanchi!
Dedicated and hard working Shluchos!!
May you go from strength to strength!!!
How amazing a Mendel and CM honored:)
Very proud of our young chayil im.
Well deserved honor. The Rebbe ZYA and Rebbetzin ZYA were represented by young MM & CM!
Was recently invited to the women’s annual gathering and saw what you gorgeous women do. Think this is so incredible but disappointed so few women attended. Would have liked to see an equal number of men to women. Fantastic!
It was RABBI A. SHEMTOV who had the merit to bring my husband z’l to the Rebbe!
He convinced the American Government to transfer Dr. Lawrence Resnick, an army doctor from Hawaii to 770 to take care of the Rebbe in 1977 after his heart attack.
MAY HASHEM GRANT RABBI SHEMTOV THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE IN THESE “IMPOSSIBLE” MISSIONS IN THE FUTURE – ESPECIALLY IN THE REALM OF TZNIUS..
RESPECTFULLY,
Mrs. M. Resnick
Thanks to Tzivos Hashem – My shliach and Rabbi Mendy Shanowitz. What wonderful and great program. Keep up your great work of producing Tzivos Hashem Generals.
Amazing!!!!!!!! What a zchus to be able to represent Lubavitch!
Proud of you all Hecht family with Reb Chava Hecht at helm KAH biz hundert un tzantzig
So beautiful , continued nachas
,a True Soldier in The Rebbes Army
So nice!! And so glad they included Rebitzen Hecht — “the Mommy of us all”!!
Beautiful!
to shake the hand of a 3 star general in Tzivos Hashem!
So proud to be a product of the shluchim of Ann Arbor, MI and a current resident of Crown Heights. They are all amazing right up to the top Alte Alte Bubbe Hecht! BailA is amazing, Chanchi Rebbitzen Esther Goldstein and of course all of her prodigy. Such nachas!
Cheder Lubavitch Detroit so proud of you !!
Turning over mountains as usual. Well done
Wow! What a Zchus the president has to meet all these Choshive people!
The most dedicated and special head shliach out there.
On jem video , when the rebbe spoke to representative
From Israel government on eye to eye ,
the rebbe said
” dangers from Iran and Syria ”
You can contact jem for more info , they should be able to help
Yay for representing our school!!!!
Go cheder Lubavitch Morristown!
– a student from Morristown
You make us proud!!
Chaya,,,,, both bubby Hecht and chanchie
So proud
I love you all so deserved
Keep up the great work
Rebbetzin Baila Hecht mother of Rebbetzin Chachi Goldstein, who is the mother of the ‘little girl’ .
Go chaya and bubby and bubby and chanchi!!! Woohoo!!
I never knew the Rebbe had a view on Iran. Please share
who r the other 2 ladies with Reb> Hecht and the little girl?
There are few like Rabbi Avraham Shemtov today. A man personally chosen by the Rebbe for various important tasks and privileges. Chosen by the Rebbe to serve as the chairman of the Lubavitch umbrella organization, Agudas Chasidei Chabad and on the boards of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Machane Israel.
he’s amazing
The matriarch of the largest rabbinical fam in the world! So proud to have you represent us!!!!!
Such nachas!
We are so proud of our Bubby Hecht and cousin Chaya!
go bubby hechts and chanchi and chaya goldstein u rock
Bubby Hecht and Chaya G. We are so proud of you!!!!
WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR BIG BROTHER, AND WE LOVE YOU !!!
LOVE M,Y,L,Y
Mendel Benjaminson we are so excited for you! It’s not every day that someone we know and someone from our school gets to represent the chayolim to the president. Wow!! Keep up the good work and keep putting in all the effort.
Yay Mendel, amazing job! Keep giving the Rebbe and your family so much Nachas!
excellent to promote “the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s vision on education”
It may take a lot , lot ,lot of effort with Hashems help to register with the Pres Obama the Rebbes vision on Syria, Iran.
Baruch hashem they are able to reach the Pres on some of the Rebbes messages
Moshiach Now !
Those kids must have done so many mitzvos to earn such a high ranking!!!!!!!!
every positive undertaking is significant.
Kudos to the President for making time to do this and continuing a long tradition…
Education matters and this meeting shows it
We love you :)))