Rabbi Meets Brazil’s President During a Mitzvah Stop

An early morning phone call for help to do a Mitzvah had Rabbi Leib Rojtenberg, Director of Beit Chabad de Brasília in Brazil, on a quick errand that led to an impromptu meeting with President Jair Bolsonaro. Full Story

December 8, 2020 – 22 Kislev 5781

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Leib Rojtenberg, Director of Beit Chabad de Brasília in Brazil, received an 8:00 AM phone call this week with a simple request: to bring over a pair of Tefillin.

The caller was Fabio Wajgarten, head of the communications department of Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro.

Wajgarten said he had forgotten his own pair and wanted to know if Rabbi Rojtenberg was available to bring him Tefillin so he can pray that morning.

Rabbi Rojtenberg, who serves the Jewish community in the federal capital of Brazil, said he was coming over, allowing Wajgarten to pray.

After davening, Wajgarten introduced him to Luiz Eduardo Ramos, the Brazilian Army four-star General who is currently serving as Secretary of Government.

The rabbi then met President Bolsonaro himself. “The President wished the Jewish community a happy Chanukah and thanked them for their contribution to the country of Brazil,” Rabbi Rojtenberg told COLlive.com.