Terry Branstad, the former governor of Iowa and a Jewish public figure who later served as U.S. ambassador to China, put on tefillin for the first time in his life at age 79. The ceremony took place last Monday after Rabbi Yossi Jacobson of Chabad in Iowa visited him at his independent-living home in Des Moines, where Branstad now lives in retirement.
Jacobson said he had offered Branstad the mitzvah many times over more than 30 years, but Branstad had never agreed before. This time, the rabbi brought kosher food from the Chabad deli and a special pair of tefillin that had belonged to Jacobson’s late brother, Shlomi. Branstad, who was not feeling well, nonetheless welcomed the visit and accepted the opportunity.
Shlomi Jacobson died in April 2020 at age 33. Despite serious health challenges, he was known for his devotion to tefillin, often crying while wrapping them. Rabbi Jacobson said those tears were not of pain, but of inspiration, adding that they continued to move Jews in Iowa long after Shlomi’s death. Although Shlomi never married and had no children, his tefillin have remained in use at the deli, where the Jacobsons have helped thousands of Jews fulfill the commandment and regularly taught Torah classes.
Branstad, who served 22 years as Iowa governor and is described as the longest-serving governor in American history, was touched by the story. When asked whether he would like to perform the mitzvah with Shlomi’s tefillin, he agreed. Branstad said the blessings and Shema for the first time at 79, and expressed appreciation for the visit.
