By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302, a division of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch – the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday.
Kotlarsky was hosted at the President’s residence in Jerusalem for a meeting, as well as a public event, during which he had the opportunity to help Herzog’s staff with putting on Tefillin. The president himself is said to do so daily.
During their encounter, Kotlarsky discussed some of the upcoming initiatives that Chabad Headquarters and the Shluchim are organizing, and the current myriad of programming and services that are being offered.
According to a report by the Pew Research Center on American Jewish life, 38% of all US Jews have engaged in some way with programs and events of Chabad. Some 40% of those are active on a regular or semi-regular basis. The younger the segment, the more connected they are with Chabad, Pew concluded and 75% of those who are involved with Chabad do not self-identify as Orthodox.
The president responded positively about discussing future strategic partnerships. He commented that he is very familiar with what Chabad does, not just as the former Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
“My son goes to Chabad during his travels around the world…” he said with a smile.
Thank You Mendy for all of your hard work you do for the Rebbe, extending the Rebbe’s reach to entirely new heights! Mendy, you are a great inspiration!
Chaim Herzog was the President of Israel as well. For those who know, Chaim Herzog’s relationship with the Rebbe is legendary. When the UN came up for a vote in 1976 calling Zionism racism, it was Chaim Herzog that took the policy at ripped it to shreds from the podium int he UN. He further quoted our right as an everylasting inheritance to Chevron – and showed the world that our deed is the Torah (bringing a Chumash with him to the UN)…there are a myriad of other stories which were not widely told about the relationship between Chaim Herzog… Read more »