DC Shliach Gives National Prayer

By COLlive reporter

The White House invited Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), as one of the faith leaders to lead the National Day of Prayer ceremony on Thursday.

The ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House was opened by Vice President Mike Pence and was concluded with remarks by President Donald Trump.

Weaving several themes into the brief prayer, the senior Shliach to Washington, DC, related the timeless teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of sacred memory.

“Each and every one of us has the ability and responsibility to build a sanctuary in their life where G-d can dwell and help bring light, love goodness and kindness to as many people as they might merit,” he said.

He quoted Divrei Hayamim Beis, where Hashem tells Shlomo Hamelech that when yidden do teshuva He will “heal their land, and look upon and listen to this place,” the Beis Hamikdosh (Holy Temple). Thus we must all make a miniature mikdash (sanctuary) where Hashem can see and hear and heal the land we live in now.

After invoking the saintly Rashbi, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, in honor of Lag BaOmer, Rabbi Shemtov stressed the importance of prayer. He then took a personal moment to thank the President, especially in light of the challenges faced by his own forbears.

Following the prayer, President Trump was seen greeting him warmly and catching a quick conversation with him before returning to the Oval Office.

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“A real Kiddush Hashem” remarked one Jewish communal leader who was present, “And I can truly say, the Rebbe would be very proud of what Rabbi Shemtov did today.”

Rabbi Shemtov then had to rush over to a huge community celebration of Lag BaOmer which took place in a local Washington, DC park drawing hundreds of students, young professionals, families and friends.