By COLlive reporter
President Barack Obama honored the contributions American Jews have made in the arts, music, sports and other fields at the first-ever White House reception Thursday marking Jewish Heritage Month.
He said the Jewish people’s belief that a better future is always possible should be a lesson for all Americans, according to AP.
Obama also took the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the safety and security of Israel, after a mounting criticism within the Jewish community over his administration’s handling of the Middle East peace process.
Among those in attendance were Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Director of American Friends of Lubavitch in Washington, DC and Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk, Director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Montana.
Also present were Chabad-inspired boxer Dmitriy Salita of Flatbush and Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad, former NFL Offensive Lineman and today a Lubavitcher who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Rabbi Shemtov was also asked to organize the koshering of the White House kitchen for the Jewish reception.
Former baseball great Sandy Koufax was also invited. When Koufax met Rabbi Shemtov he extended his right hand for a shake, but Shemtov told COLlive he insisted on also shaking Koufax’s left hand.
The left-handed Koufax, who pitched for the L.A. Dodgers in the 1960’s, famously refused to pitch in a World Series game held on Yom Kippur, creating a Kiddush Hashem “and helping to uphold Jewish pride for decades,” Shemtov says.
Obama joked that while Koufax said he couldn’t pitch on Yom Kippur, the president himself simply couldn’t pitch — a reference to his rocky appearances on the mound when he’s been asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at baseball games.
GO MR VEINGRAD!!!! U ROCK!!!
Ur the racist one. if someone doesnt like obama, they dont like him. if u say that they dont like him because of his color- ur the racist one.
mr. 13# what do you expect a politician to say that he hates jews he is not stupid politicians are not sincere.
go chaim shaul and chavie! u guyz r the best!
i dont even want to get into this. thats the most igorant comment ever. i personally think ur joking, because ur argument is so poor. obama is just a good shmoozer, thats all.
keep up the great work
obama like”s jew!!!
all u other ppl insulting him are racist! if he was white you wouldnt be insulting him!
BO OBAMA
Will you guys stop already badmouthing the President. His speech seemed very sincere and eloquent. He was addressing a small crowd not a convention so his voice wasn’t booming. So what. Give the guy a break.
Kosher buyer for one of the largest supermarket chains in the US is a Lubavitcher Chassid and was also at the meeting.
Salita is the Sandy Koufax of our generation!
Go Chaim Shaul!!! The best shliach ever!! Montana is lucky to have him and his wife!!!
… he is lubavitcher
I read Obama’s comments. What a LAME speech! He can’t even speak in a dignified manner. He sounds more like a stand-up comic…
Looks like Chaim Shaul is a rising star Shliach!!!!
He has lived in the Coral Springs Chabad Community now for about three years.
Chaim Shaul was also there 3 years ago!
i love baseball and ping pong
Not just baseballs, he can’t pitch health care, national secutity, middle east affairs, or even oil spills.