Lubav Girl Leads Invocation

As Chicago’s lawmakers debate over Washington’s new gun laws, Rabbi Meir Chai Benhiyoun, Director of Chabad in Downtown Chicago and the Center for Jewish Life offers an interesting twist to the sometimes very somber mood at Chicago’s City Hall.

Chicago’s new gun ordinance, approved on Friday July 2 by a 45-0 vote of the City Council, addresses this week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling and maintains his longstanding commitment to fight against the gangbangers and drug dealers who bring violence to the City’s neighborhoods, Mayor Richard M. Daley said.

As is the proceeding at any City Council meeting a person of faith delivers a special prayer, an invocation, to start the meeting.

City Clerk Miguel Del Valle, previously a State Senator for the State of Illinois, invited Rabbi Meir Chai Benhiyoun to deliver the invocation at the City Council’s Special Meeting on Friday, July 2.

Weren’t the members of the City Council surprised when the Rabbi asked his 13 year-old daughter, Ruth Shaina, to quote a verse from the describing a time when, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not fight against nation. And they will no longer study warfare.”

Pleasantly surprised indeed. Chicago’s 2nd Ward Alderman Robert W. Fioretti, who was participating in the meeting, described how wonderful it is to see children being educated with strong values. He then added that this is the most effective way to eradicate violence from our homes and communities.

So poignant were the Rabbi’s words, 25th Ward Alderman Daniel S. Solis actually asked for a copy of the invocation from which he would use excerpts during two rallies he was speaking at that day honoring the families of those lost to crime in his ward.

Handguns or not, Chabad in Downtown Chicago stays committed to fighting violence through education and combating darkness with light. As best put by Rabbi Benhiyoun in his prayer, “We must pray for better days when we won’t need weapons to protect our society.”