By COLlive reporter
Photos: PMO & White House
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrapped up a high-profile week in the United States with an unplanned stay in Washington, D.C., for Shabbos.
Netanyahu was in the nation’s capital to deliver his fourth historic address to a joint session of Congress. He brought with him released hostages and wounded IDF soldiers to make the case for Israel’s response to the October 7th massacre.
He then held separate meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in the 2024 elections.
On Friday, Netanyahu flew to Florida to meet the presumptive Republican nominee and former president, Donald Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
VIDEO:
5 ערוצי החדשות המובילים בארה”ב ושלל הערוצים המובילים בעולם שידרו את נאום נתניהו בקונגרס – שכיכב והדהד היום גם על שערי העיתונים ברחבי הגלובוס | סיכום מיוחד של העיתונאי מוטי קסטל בערוץ 14 @KastelMoti pic.twitter.com/cC90awRUNg
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 26, 2024
Due to the proximity to Shabbos, Netanyahu decided to remain in the U.S.
Israel’s Embassy in Washington and Netanyahu’s staff worked with American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) personnel, headed by senior Shliach to Washington, DC, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, to ensure they had everything they needed.
At the initiative of its owner, Mr. Jacques Cohen, the Watergate Hotel on Virginia Avenue quickly arranged a temporary synagogue on the premises.
Even custom Talis pouches and custom siddurim (prayer books) were procured with the Hebrew words “Visit of the Prime Minister- Washington, Tammuz 5784.”
Netanyahu, First Lady Sara Netanyahu, their son Yair Netanyahu, Ambassador Michael Herzog, his wife, and their staff and friends, along with Rabbi Shemtov and his wife, Mrs. Nechama Shemtov, attended the Shabbos dinner.
During davening on Shabbos morning, the Prime Minister arrived with his security detail. Netanyahu recited the prayer for the IDF and then began to say a special Mi Sheberach for the hostages still being held by Hamas.
“He carefully and emotionally read the name of each one,” COLlive.com was told.
Moments later, a security officer notified Netanyahu of the horrible Hezbollah rocket strike on a soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in northern Israel.
The attack killed 12 children and injured dozens more, causing the Prime Minister and his entourage to return to Israel earlier than planned.
May the news from Israel be only positive going forward.
So far there is not much of a military response from Israel to the murder of the 12 children yesterday. It is truly pitiful. I pray to see the might of the IDF being brought to bear, and I do not see it.
This is not as simple as you are making it out to be. Hezbollah/iran is luring Israel into a war they don’t want. They are stretched to the bone dealing with hamas. Calling up reservists means the economy suffers. Not to mention all the displaced families both in the north and south. All the untended farms, wineries, the lack of tourists. A very complicated issue.
The complication is that the Biden administration is throwing us to the wolves. I am fully aware of the challenges but we can’t allow ourselves to be hunted like prey from all sides. By “we” I mean the nation of Israel. No nation wants to be in a situation in which it is fired upon from all directions without a response. This is the definition of peril, and Israel does not want to be in such a situation. But it has absolutely no allies now among the nations and we fool ourselves if we think otherwise for a second.
The far reaching impact that he has on the top levels of US and Israel government and also foreign governments is a true kiddush Lubavitch. His work impacts us all and is truly incredible