Levi Shemtov

Last updated
Rabbi Levi Shemtov Rabbi Levi Shemtov.jpg
Rabbi Levi Shemtov

Rabbi Levi Shemtov is the executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad). He serves the Jewish community of Washington, D.C., as well as the daily governmental and diplomatic needs of the international Chabad-Lubavitch movement. [1] [2]

Contents

Known for his high-level bipartisan connections and influence, He has been dubbed "the rabbi of Capitol Hill", "a Washington institution", "one of the most unlikely players in the nation's capital", "a fixture on the diplomatic circuit", and "one of the most savvy politicos in town". [3] [4]

Rabbi Shemtov Is the organizer and director of The National Menorah Lighting on the White House Ellipse. Known as the premiere annual Hanukkah celebration, The National Menorah was established by Rabbi Abraham Shemtov in 1979 and has since been attended by then-president Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, and annually attended by members of the current administration. The National Menorah is annually attended by thousands and viewed by over 70 million.

Shemtov is the founder and spiritual leader of TheSHUL of the Nation's Capital, an orthodox synagogue located at the Chabad-Lubavitch Center in Washington, DC. TheSHUL offers a place for worship and community, regardless of formal affiliation – and offers children's programs, Torah study opportunities, and engaging celebrations of Shabbat and Jewish holidays. [5] [6] TheSHUL is known to be attended by high-level political figures from both sides of the aisle. From White House Chief of Staff, Press Secretary’s, and Senior Advisers. [7] [8]

Shemtov chairs the organizing committee of the International Chabad-Lubavitch Conference – Living Legacy, which facilitates substantial high-level interaction between rabbis and communal leadership from across the globe and prominent US and international figures in the arenas of government, diplomacy, academia and the arts. [9]

Shemtov is a member of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Washington, the leading group of orthodox rabbis and kosher certification of the Greater Washington area.

National programs

Programs he organizes several events such as the annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah. [1] [10] [11] [12] [13]

He founded and directs the Capitol Jewish Forum, which is the largest apolitical Jewish group on Capitol Hill, [14] designed to "create and enhance a sense of identity and community among Jewish Congressional staffers and members of Congress" and which enjoys strong support of the Leadership and members of both parties in the US Senate and House of Representatives since its founding. [15] Shemtov is often at the White House, Pentagon, State Department and other venues in Washington. He directed and has been involved in many Jewish community and other events with the White House, including overseeing the koshering process of the White House kitchens for the celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month and Chanukah, during the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. [16] [17] [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menachem Mendel Schneerson</span> Orthodox rabbi (1902–1994)

Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known to many as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or simply the Rebbe, was an Orthodox rabbi and the most recent Rebbe of the Lubavitch Hasidic dynasty. He is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad</span> Belarusian Hasidic dynasty

Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch, is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups and Jewish religious organizations in the world. Unlike most Haredi groups, which are self-segregating, Chabad operates mainly in the wider world and caters to secularized Jews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn</span> Sixth Chabad Rebbe (1880–1950)

Yosef YitzchakSchneersohn was an Orthodox rabbi and the sixth Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement. He is also known as the Frierdiker Rebbe, the Rebbe RaYYaTz, or the Rebbe Rayatz. After many years of fighting to keep Orthodox Judaism alive from within the Soviet Union, he was forced to leave; he continued to conduct the struggle from Latvia, and then Poland, and eventually the United States, where he spent the last ten years of his life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanukkah menorah</span> Candelabrum lit during Hanukkah

A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold lights that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday; on each night, one more light is lit than the previous night, until on the final night all eight branches are ignited. The ninth branch holds a candle, called the shamash, which is used to light the other eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Rivkah</span> Chabad girls school

Beth Rivkah, formally known as Associated Beth Rivkah Schools, is a private girls' school system affiliated with the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kehot Publication Society</span> Publication Society of the Chabad Lubavitch hasidic movement.

Kehot Publication Society is the publishing division of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gan Israel Camping Network</span> Series of Jewish summer camps

The Gan Israel Camping Network is a group of Chabad-Lubavitch summer camps. The network claims a total enrolment of over 100,000 children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agudas Chasidei Chabad</span> Chabad-Lubavitch organization.

Agudas Chassidei Chabad is the umbrella organization for the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The chairman of the executive committee is Rabbi Abraham Shemtov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad house</span> Religious outreach centres operated by the Chabad movement of Hasidic Judaism

A Chabad house is a centre for disseminating traditional Judaism by the Chabad movement. Chabad houses are run by a Chabad Shaliach (emissary), and Shalucha and their family. They are located in cities and on or near college campuses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abraham Shemtov</span>

Abraham Shemtov is a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and a shaliach ("emissary") of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimon Lazaroff</span>

Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff is the current Texas Regional Director for Texas Friends of Chabad Lubavitch, Inc. and member of the board and executive committee of Agudas Chasidei Chabad. With the direction of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, he established Chabad Lubavitch in Texas upon his arrival with his family in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Raskin</span> American religious leader and rabbi

Aaron L. Raskin is an American Chabad Lubavitch rabbi and writer. He serves as spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Avraham, an Orthodox synagogue in Brooklyn Heights, New York, and dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public menorah</span> Public display during Hanukkah

A public menorah is a large menorah displayed publicly during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. It is done to celebrate the holiday and publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, and is typically accompanied by a public event during one of the nights of Hanukkah attended by invited dignitaries who are honored with lighting the menorah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White House Hanukkah Party</span> Annual reception held at the White House

The White House Hanukkah Party is an annual reception held at the White House and hosted by the U.S. President and First Lady to recognize and celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The tradition was established in 2001, during the administration of George W. Bush. The guest list includes hundreds of American Jewish politicians, organization heads, and school and yeshiva deans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Menorah</span>

The National Menorah is a large Hanukkah menorah located in the northeast quadrant of The Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C. It was first lit in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, and has been erected and lit every year since. The Menorah has grown in size as well, and is now 30 feet (9.1 m) high.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosef Yeshaya Braun</span>

Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya BraunArchived September 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine is an Orthodox rabbi and a member of the Chabad Hasidic movement. Rabbi Braun serves as a member of the Beth Din of Crown Heights, the Bais Din Tzedek of the Jewish community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; he is an authority on Halacha and Hasidic philosophy. Rabbi Braun previously served as the rabbi of the Tzemach Tzedek Synagogue in Sydney, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad affiliated organizations</span> Organizations affiliated with the Chabad movement within Hasidic Judaism

Chabad affiliated organizations and institutions number in the thousands. Chabad is a Hasidic movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism. The organizations and institutions associated with the movement provide social, educational and religious services to Jews around the globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad customs and holidays</span>

Chabad customs and holidays are the practices, rituals and holidays performed and celebrated by adherents of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. The customs, or minhagim and prayer services are based on Lurianic kabbalah. The holidays are celebrations of events in Chabad history. General Chabad customs, called minhagim, distinguish the movement from other Hasidic groups.

Yaakov Levi Robin is an American Hasidic folk singer based in Huntington Beach, California. He first gained attention as an opening act for Matisyahu, and released his self-titled debut EP in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shul of Bal Harbour</span>

The Shul of Bal Harbour is a Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Surfside, Florida named by Newsweek as one of America's 25 most vibrant congregations.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Rebbe's Man in Washington". Mishpacha Magazine. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  2. ↑ Fishkoff, Sue (2013). The Rebbe's Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch. Schocken Books. ISBN   978-0-307-56614-0. OCLC   869410097.
  3. ↑ Zauzmer, Julie. "Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  4. ↑ Broadway, Bill (1999-07-03). "Hasidic Outpost in D.C." Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  5. ↑ "Jared and Ivanka's rabbi, Chabad's top man in DC, is optimistic about the coming transition". J. 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Jared Kushner's DC rabbi offers spiritual home to both sides of political aisle". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  8. ↑ "Jack Lew: The First Orthodox Jewish Treasury Secretary". Tablet Magazine. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  9. ↑ "Living Legacy Felt in Washington". COLlive. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  10. ↑ "National Menorah Celebrates First Day of Hannukah and its 40th Anniversary (photos)". The Georgetowner. 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  11. ↑ Hatch David (September 27, 1995)"Rabbi Levi Shemtov: Prayer and politics, bipartisan style", The Hill
  12. ↑ Besser, James "Politics Set aside", November 10, 1995, The Jewish Week
  13. ↑ Fishkoff Sue "The Rebbe's Army",2003 Random House, page 185
  14. ↑ "Capitol Jewish Forum Hosts 20th Annual Hanukkah Celebration". Roll Call. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  15. ↑ Scarr, Cindy (2020-06-17). "The Rebbe's Man in Washington". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  16. ↑ "Video: The Kosher Kitchen". whitehouse.gov. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  17. ↑ Hoffman, Jan (13 December 2011). "Overnight Makeover for a Kosher First Kitchen". The New York Times . Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Daily Kickoff: Interview with Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Alex Lasry + The politics of overseas votes and Ben-Gurion Airport's closure". Jewish Insider. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.