By COLlive reporter
Washington was buzzing this weekend, with the unfortunate attacks in Kabul overshadowing the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who ended up needing to stay there for Shabbat.
Members of Congress returned from their summer recess and diplomatic circles prepared for the imminent arrival of Vlodymyr Zelensky, the first Jewish President of Ukraine.
But amidst all this action, the Jewish community was also buzzing with a significant expansion of Chabad-Lubavitch operations in our nation’s capital at now five locations in the city.
The “Lubavitch Embassy” in Kalorama, the central office in DC of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) serves the governmental, international and national needs of Shluchim in 50 states and over 100 countries as well as the local community. And now began several programs at their new locations on Capitol Hill, Georgetown, at American University and The George Washington University.
Hundreds of students were expected to attend several events on Friday night around the city, Shabbat morning and the following days as the new semester got underway.
Chabad Georgetown formally commenced operations this week in a new premises two blocks from the main campus. A satellite program of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) for years, Rabbi Menachem and Racheli Shemtov will now spearhead this new full-time presence on one of America’s most prominent universities. Alumni from across the US and even Europe, Israel, and Asia called excitedly with their support for this amazing new initiative.
Chabad East DC, directed by Rabbi Yitzi and Shana Ceitlin, has ramped up its presence at the Georgetown Law Center near Capitol Hill, where they have successfully established (during Covid-19!) a robust program for the thousands of Jewish people now living there, along with their newest effort, the Capitol Hill Minyan.
Chabad AU, located one block from American University and headed by Rabbi Shua and Esti Hecht, “swore in” a brand new students board and was subscribed beyond capacity for its initial programs, including Shabbat Dinner, AU Minyan, welcome BBQ, Sunset Cruise – and the wildly popular “Hebrew School to You” which offers over 20 classes per week(!) and now moves to “Phase Two” with expanded staff and a Mobile Library for the coming year.
A fresh new initiative, JGrads – Chabad DC was launched with an elegant dinner at the brand new Chabad GW Townhouse at Washington Circle, just across the street from The George Washington University. JGrads will be spearheaded by Rabbi Levi and Nechama Shemtov and cater to the thousands of Jewish graduate students at GW, Georgetown, American and Johns Hopkins Universities (Carey, SAIS), as well as over 30 graduate and “semester abroad” student programs from a range of universities across the US at facilities located in DC. The aim of this program will be to afford unique and exclusive opportunities for the participants to interact with leading success stories in their areas of interest and – obviously – to expand their social networks in this intense period in their lives.
Five societies will comprise JGrads. The Tzedek Society for law school students, The Rofeh Society for medical students and health care administration, Bonim Society for those pursuing degrees in the Real Estate field, Asakim Society for those studying at the Business Schools, Administration and Finance Sector, and the Ezra Society for the graduate students developing careers in public policy, politics and international affairs. Dozens of leading and nationally renowned figures in the above disciplines, from current and former senior government officials to preeminent doctors, medical pioneers, business leaders and captains of industry have already committed to mentoring programs and headlining social events for this prestigious group.
Hundreds of graduate students have actually already signed up for the ‘21-‘22 program, and the JGrads student organizers are well on the way to reaching their goal of 1,000 in the first semester!
“We are delighted at the responses to these new programs, and hope this new catalyst will help a more general communal recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which we pray will end soon,” said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), who added, “we also have some new young energy arriving in time for Rosh Hashana, when we plan to launch yet another exciting initiative significantly impacting Washington, DC’s Jewish community. The reduced activity during the current pandemic provided an opportune time to carefully recalibrate and plan unprecedented growth here. Stay tuned.”
Wow! Everything looks as elegant as the couples running it! Much Hatzlacha!
They are everything the Rebbe wanted in his schluchim!
They are sweet refined and energetic.
All who come in contact with them,are impressed with Shua’s Lineage from The Hecht and Pinson Mishpochas
True royal soldiers of Chabad!
Go and Bring Moshiach!