About 100 Jewish interns spending their summer working at the White House, Congress, Jewish organizations, think tanks, political organizations and educational institutions and embassies came together for the 17th annual Jewish Interns Cruise, sponsored by the Capitol Jewish Forum, a project of American Friends of Lubavitch.
The outreach to the summer interns and the event’s organization was superbly done by Rabbi Yudi and Rivky Steiner, who run Chabad GW, the outpost of American Friends of Lubavitch at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
They were joined by Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, which deals with Latin America.
After a brief welcome and dvar torah by Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Director of American Friends of Lubavitch, which sponsored the cruise – in which he urged these energetic young people to remember their unique and individual responsibility to the Torah and to the Jewish people even as they pursue their own various careers, Congressman Engel, who was also the special guest at the first such cruise in 1993, described his dedication to the Jewish cause and to public service, especially his focus on efforts in support of Israel, and urged all the interns, whatever their persuasion or affiliation, to do the same.
The Congressman, known as one of Israel’s staunchest supporters of Congress, even found rare words of praise for his Republican colleagues on the issue, which made a deep impression on the interns, many of whom will return to campuses (and hopefully Chabad Houses) all over the US in the fall.
He also expressed his high regard for the work of Chabad-Lubavitch, and urged the interns to approach Chabad as an organization which is not judgemental but rather strives to bring Jews together, especially those that might not seem connected or affiliated. After that, he took several pointed questions from the interns, answering each one patiently and thoroughly.
Everyone then enjoyed a beautiful sushi and falafel spread, returning home in the hot muggy Washington evening (it was almost 100 degrees) with a strengthened sense of Jewish identity – and almost 100 new Jewish friends to spend time with over the summer.
Maybe you should call more often?
M.S. Washington 🙂
Keep up your amazing work! You’re making everyone really proud! You guys are truly an inspiration for Shluchim worldwide! May AFOL with your leadership grow from strength to strength
P.S Nechama, you should call more often.
S.F Sydney
Rabbi Yudi and Rivky you really know how to make it happen!
Yasher Koach Rabbi Yudi and Rebbetzin Rivky- Looks Fantastic!!! Kol HaKavod!! may you continue to “bring people ashore” and .transform all of us to nunay yam
Rabbi Yudi and Rivky rock GW !!!!
Way to go Yudi and Rivky.
Very impressive, Kol Hakavod, Rabbi L.
Go Rivky & Yudi!!!! 🙂