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]
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 Secretaries, 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
editPrograms 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]
References
edit- ^ a b "The Rebbe's Man in Washington". Mishpacha Magazine. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ Fishkoff, Sue (2013). The Rebbe's Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch. Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-307-56614-0. OCLC 869410097.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Broadway, Bill (1999-07-03). "Hasidic Outpost in D.C." Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Jared Kushner's DC rabbi offers spiritual home to both sides of political aisle". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Jack Lew: The First Orthodox Jewish Treasury Secretary". Tablet Magazine. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Living Legacy Felt in Washington". COLlive. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "National Menorah Celebrates First Day of Hannukah and its 40th Anniversary (photos)". The Georgetowner. 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ Hatch David (September 27, 1995)"Rabbi Levi Shemtov: Prayer and politics, bipartisan style", The Hill
- ^ Besser, James "Politics Set aside", November 10, 1995, The Jewish Week
- ^ Fishkoff Sue "The Rebbe's Army",2003 Random House, page 185
- ^ "Capitol Jewish Forum Hosts 20th Annual Hanukkah Celebration". Roll Call. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ Scarr, Cindy (2020-06-17). "The Rebbe's Man in Washington". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Video: The Kosher Kitchen". whitehouse.gov. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ Hoffman, Jan (13 December 2011). "Overnight Makeover for a Kosher First Kitchen". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "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.