By COLlive reporter
Geoffrey Davis, a prominent resident of Crown Heights and leader of the 43rd Assembly District of the Democratic party in Brooklyn, is currently working on a children’s book.
Featured in the book will be none other than the Rebbe.
Davis and his son were seen reviewing the Jewish books section in Hamafitz Judaica store on Kingston Avenue this week.
Davis told entertainer Moshe Kravitsky, who happened to be there, that he is planning to write a book about the connection and interactions he merited to have with the Rebbe as a child.
Davis and his brother, James E. Davis would play catch on their street on Shabbos and would meet the Rebbe as he was walking to his home on President Street from 770 Eastern Parkway.
Years later, Davis would relate that the inspiration behind his work—and that of his late brother, who served as a city council member—came from words the Rebbe would share with them when he saw them at play.
“I reflect about someone who was 75, 80 years old at the time,” Davis later said, “who used to talk to us. [He] didn’t look like us, but opened the door for us to communicate and to embrace all human beings.”
James was killed by a fellow politician in New York City Hall in a bizarre instance of political rivalry turned violent in 2003. His brother Geoffrey then founded the James E Davis Stop the Violence Foundation.
When thousands of chassidim came to watch videos of the Rebbe in front of 770 Eastern Parkway on Gimmel Tammuz in 5776, Davis was one of the people who stood there with much reverence.
“(I) attended the annual inspiring memorial in memory of my childhood friend, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson,” he wrote on his Facebook page, sharing a photo of himself captured by a COLlive photographer.
“It was such an honor to have the opportunity to talk to the Rebbe when I was a child,” Davis wrote. “I love seeing the Crown Heights community and communities all over the world pay respect to his tremendous legacy.”
Geoffrey Davis said that he has yet to decide on an illustrator for his children’s book. And it isn’t known if the book will be self-published or released by a book publisher.
VIDEO: Geoffrey Davis speaks in Hamafitz Judaica
This was beautiful!!
Beautiful idea, beautiful story and a beautiful person.
You go Moishe!
Watch his videos online. Moshe show
He’s amazing!!!! Sooo talented!
Moishe is a poet, a writer,a comedian, a lover of all things Chabad, a real chossid. He’s a good fella he’s one of us!
Hashem bless him to find the other half of his soul!
I have been a friend of geoffrey davis mother for over 30 years as we worked together with the board of elections.
I know geoffrey davis and knew his brother personally as well.
Ms davis one day told me her recollections of the rebbe and her sons as we sat talking outside 770.
She said her sons were playing ball together and arguing. The rebbe stopped and spoke kindly to them. He told them not to argue and gave each one a dollar. She has such love and respect for the rebbe.
Wow! This shows how much the Rebbe really cares about every person!
Looks very familiar. Why do I recognise him? Is he a public figure?