Some Chutzpa Goes a Long Way

By COLlive reporter

A group of Chabad boys could not believe it themselves, how a visit to the Los Angeles City Council chambers resulted in an invitation for a private meeting with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

It all started when the 3 elected leaders of the junior congregation, Kol Yakov Yehuda – the Rebbe’s Diamond Daveners, were invited by Councilwoman Jan Perry to receive the “City of Los Angeles Young Leadership Award.”

The minyan’s President Efraim Levenberg, Vice president Levy Weiss and Secretary of State Mendel Lerman were publicly thanked by Perry for being “living examples of today’s youth.”

In a 2 minute acceptance speech to the council chambers, Levenberg gave rousing remarks which were met with a standing ovation.

“Honorable city leaders, I do not stand here alone today. I represent Jewish children from around the world in proclaiming that we all must make this turbulent world – a world of kindness and good deeds and a better place to live in,” he said.

“On behalf of my fellow congregants, I accept this award and thank you -the city leaders- for allowing us kids to live freely in this city, and for giving us the opportunity to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

As the ceremony ended and they were leaving the chambers, the minyan’s outgoing president Shlomy Lasker asked a security member where the mayor works. “Upstairs,” was his response.

The rest might just be history.

In chutzpa, or perhaps a case of ‘lechatchila ariber,’ the 6 boys headed upstairs to the office of the Mayor where they announced to the receptionist who they were and what they were doing in City Hall.

After a half hour wait, during which a member of the security entourage questioned the youngsters, they were led into the office where Mayor Villaraigosa personally welcomed them in and shook each one of the boys’ hands.

They were accompanied by Rabbi Mendel Duchman, Los Angeles activist and founder of the Rebbe’s Diamond Daveners, who organized the ceremony “to simply uplift ‘unzereh kinder’ and to give them hands on training to their future Shlichus.”

Also joining were Shloimy Lasker, Yisroel Pinson and Levy Greenbaum, the outgoing elected leaders of the Junior Congregation.

The mayor discussed both his close relationship with the Jews of Los Angeles and how they were so instrumental in giving him the courage to run for public office even though he came from a Hispanic low income family.

In the half hour meeting, Villaraigosa explained to the boys in detail what his job and responsibilities are, and then asked them what their role is and what this Jr. Congregation is all about, as well as what they want to be when they grow up.

Levi Greenbaum explained to the Mayor that besides being a shul for the kids by the kids, they also do outreach community programs with Mivtzoim every Friday and holidays.

At the end of the encounter, the Mayor turned to the boys and asked: “Gentleman, in one sentence, what do you guys stand for?”

Without any hesitation, Levy Weiss replied: “We are do’ers. Not say-er’s.”

To which the Mayor responded with a large smile: “Wow. That’s so powerful. I may even use this in a speech that I give this afternoon.”