Levi Shemtov

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Rabbi Levi Shemtov

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

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]

Shemtov is the founder and spiritual leader of TheSHUL of the Nation's Capital, an open 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]

Rabbi 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.[7]

National Programs[]

Programs he organizes include several events such as the annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah which draws thousands to The Ellipse (across from the White House) every year,[8] and is seen by tens of millions more via various media and the internet, where viewership - in the US alone – has reached as high as almost 70 million.[1][9][10][11][12]

He founded and directs the Capitol Jewish Forum, which is the largest apolitical Jewish group on Capitol Hill,[13] 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.[14] Rabbi Shemtov is often at the White House, Pentagon, State Department and other venues in official 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.[15][16][17]

Personal life[]

He resides in Washington, DC with his wife, Nechama, and their children and grandchildren.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ "Living Legacy Felt in Washington". COLlive. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  8. ^ "National Menorah Celebrates First Day of Hannukah and its 40th Anniversary (photos)". The Georgetowner. 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  9. ^ Hatch David (September 27, 1995)"Rabbi Levi Shemtov: Prayer and politics, bipartisan style", The Hill
  10. ^ Besser, James "Politics Set aside", November 10, 1995, The Jewish Week
  11. ^ Fishkoff Sue "The Rebbe's Army",2003 Random House, page 185
  12. ^ "Happy Hanukkah! National Menorah Lights Up Near White House". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  13. ^ "Capitol Jewish Forum Hosts 20th Annual Hanukkah Celebration". Roll Call. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  14. ^ Scarr, Cindy (2020-06-17). "The Rebbe's Man in Washington". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  15. ^ "Video: The Kosher Kitchen". whitehouse.gov. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  16. ^ Hoffman, Jan (13 December 2011). "Overnight Makeover for a Kosher First Kitchen". NYtimes.com. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  17. ^ "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.

External links[]

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