Netanyahu Didn’t Go to Ohel; His Son Visited 770

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Mendi Akiva, Meir Dahan

Rumors swirled last week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be visiting the Rebbe‘s Ohel in Queens, New York.

Netanyahu is currently in the United States on a diplomatic mission that includes an address to the United Nations General Assembly and meetings in Washington, DC.

Since the Simchas Torah Massacre on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu has shown a visible spiritual shift. He has invoked Hashem in speeches and was photographed wearing tefillin for the first time.

Those close to him have strong ties with Chabad chassidim. Netanyahu once brought a dollar from the Rebbe to President Donald Trump and keeps a collection of Tanyas in his Jerusalem office.

For many, this seemed like the right moment for him to return to the Ohel. His last visit was in 1996, following his dramatic electoral victory that marked the beginning of his record-setting tenure as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

Reports suggested he would go on Thursday or Friday, after his UN speech in which he rebuked Western countries for rewarding Hamas terror by recognizing a Palestinian state.

On i24News, anchor Sharon Gal announced live on air: “We just got an update that the Prime Minister will be visiting the Rebbe before he flies to Washington.”

In the end, the visit did not take place. Sources close to Netanyahu said he needed to prepare for his meeting with President Trump and finalize his 21-point plan for releasing the hostages from Gaza and ending the war with Hamas.

That same weekend, the mayors of Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron, also referred to as the West Bank) visited the Ohel to daven for the success of their mission.

They are pressing Netanyahu to declare sovereignty over Jewish towns and villages in response to ongoing Palestinian terror. Trump, however, stated last week that he would not permit such a move.

Meanwhile, another Netanyahu visit to Chabad did take place on Sunday.

Yair Netanyahu, the outspoken son of the prime minister, visited Lubavitch World Headquarters—770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, the Rebbe’s shul.

Netanyahu Jr., who resides in Miami, Florida, was welcomed by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Director of Merkos 302 at 770, and Rabbi Shmuel Oirechman, Chabad’s governmental liaison in Israel.

For security reasons, the main entrance of 770 was closed during his visit, as Yair Netanyahu travels with a full-time detail due to his involvement in politics.

Yair Netanyahu toured the WLCC room from where the Rebbe’s farbrengens were broadcast to the world and then continued to the Library of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, where he was shown around by the librarian Rabbi Berel Levine.

From Crown Heights, Yair Netanyahu went to the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens. He met Rabbi Abba Refron, Director of Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch; Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, and his son, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, senior Shliach in Washington, DC; and Jewish music star Avraham Fried.

As is customary, Netanyahu sat down to gather his thoughts and wrote a ‘pan’ note of prayer before going into the Ohel to daven. He surely had his father in mind.