“I Am a Friend of Lubavitch”

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shimi Kutner and Mendel Grossbaum

Hundreds of communal, political and business leaders, diplomats, international personalities, members of Congress and Administration officials came together at Washington’s elegant Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium for the Lamplighter Awards Dinner of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).

The prestigious event honored former Washington, DC Mayor and current CEO of the Federal City Council, Anthony Williams, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan (Leadership Award), and CEO of the World Bank, Kristalina I. Georgieva (International Award).

A significant contingent of Young Professionals and students at The George Washington, Georgetown and American Universities active in Chabad activities in Washington, including the board members of these divisions, were enthusiastically enjoying the delicious reception, complete with a smorgasbord and amazing sushi presentation.

Many people commented how they would come to this event even if only for the incredible display of Glatt Kosher food each time, which helps dispel myths among the general population as to the quality of kosher.

Mrs. Nechama Shemtov opened the evening and welcomed the guests, sharing a beautiful Dvar Torah about Birkas Cohanim and the raising of their hands indicating a call for action to follow words and draw down Hashem’s blessing.

She also apologized for the absence of Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International and National Director of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), who could not be there due to a longtime scheduled wedding at which he was asked to officiate.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, senior shliach to Washington, DC, and Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) welcomed the officials who participated, including two “honorary rabbis” – Ambassador of Israel to the US Ron Dermer, and US Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Michael Shulkin – both of whom have received Honorary Doctorates from the Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ.

There was a special recognition of Yerushalayim, of which we celebrate 50 years of miraculous reunification this week, and of D-Day, that fateful day in World War II on which the victory of the Allied Forces began to gain momentum. Indeed, many military officers were present and were asked to rise and be recognized as the band struck up “G-d Bless America.”

Dr. Georgieva, a Bulgarian national, recounted her pride at Bulgaria’s refusal to give up its Jewish population to their then-ally Germany. And she said so clearly that this award is accepted as a charge to do more to help people to help themselves, which is the aim of many of the World Bank’s initiatives.

Mr. Tom Kahn, a longtime leader in Washington’s Jewish community, and in his words a “proud partisan Democrat”, lauded the work of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), particularly its Capitol Jewish Forum, which seeks to create opportunities for Jewish staffers and Members of Congress to retain their Jewish identity and network with other Jewish staffers on Capitol Hill.

He also spoke about his longtime friend, The Speaker, a Republican, and welcomed Steny Hoyer, Democratic Whip of the US House of Representatives, to introduce him.

Hoyer began by saying, “I am an American friend of Lubavitch. I am an American Friend of its history, of its values and of its purpose.” He then proceeded to note his political differences with Speaker Ryan and how despite those differences, they a enjoy a deep respect for each other and the institution of Congress.

Speaker Ryan was the called to the podium to receive the Leadership Award, thanking Rabbi Shemtov and all those present for honoring him with its presentation. “To all of you here, to all in Chabad -Lubavitch, this means a lot to me. it really does.” The Speaker continued saying “Steny Hoyer’s word is gold”.

Max Berry, a prominent attorney and longtime Washington, DC powerbroker, who served as General Co-Chair of the event, welcomed Mayor Williams, who currently serve as the Chief Executive of the Federal City Council, hailing him as “the best civic leader the District of Columbia has ever seen” Mayor Williams is beloved in Washington as he is credited with restoring the city’s finances to a surplus, thus removing the Financial Control Board placed upon it by Congress in the 90’s. Mayor Williams also presided over the official opening of the brand new (Chabad) Lubavitch Center in Washington, DC.

After dinner, and bentching by Mr. Michael Landau, Chairman of MAP International and an international affairs adviser to American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), guests were treated to excellent desserts and a large display of rare and ancient Judaica items from the Max N. Berry Judaica collection, one of the largest such collections in the US. Items included a 15-century map showing Jerusalem at its center, as well as a ketuba from 1776 and menorah from the 14th (!) century Germany/Poland.

In the words of Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman, President Emeritus of AIPAC and a longtime prominent Jewish communal leader, who is very close to both Hoyer and Ryan: “As usual, AFL brought together business and communal leaders from across the spectrum in a most warm environment and elegant fashion. It is always incredible to see the reach of Rabbi Levi Shemtov and this incredible organization. Their work in Washington is a true kiddush Hashem.”