Government Leaders and Chabad Emissaries Gather for Historic Conference in Washington
Photo: Israel Teitelbaum
Government leaders and Chabad emissaries: A historic conference was held in Washington
Libi Alon, a few seconds ago
The Chabad "Living Heritage" conference in Washington brought together hundreds of Chabad emissaries, supporters and public officials from around the world. The event highlighted the influence of the Rebbe's teachings on Jewish and public life in the United States.
Hundreds of Chabad emissaries, supporters, public officials and distinguished guests from across the United States and dozens of countries around the world gathered this week in Washington, D.C., for the "Living Heritage" conference. The conference, organized by Friends of Lubavitch-Chabad in America, was dedicated to the legacy and vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, and to examining the impact of his teachings on Jewish and public life in the United States and beyond.
The event highlighted the extensive activity of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which now maintains an active presence in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 110 countries around the world. The conference served as a significant forum for meeting between community leaders, Chabad emissaries and prominent figures from politics, business, academia and the nonprofit sector.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice president of Friends of Lubavitch-Chabad in America, said such conferences are held every few years to reflect on the Rebbe's leadership and the influence of his teachings. The three-day conference opened two days ago with a festive breakfast on Capitol Hill, attended by dozens of members of Congress and senators from both parties. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum addressed the participants.
The participants then continued to the Library of Congress, where rare and valuable Jewish manuscripts were displayed, including the Washington Haggadah and Chabad-related publications.
Photo: Israel Teitelbaum
The conference later moved to the ornate Benjamin Franklin Hall at the U.S. State Department, where senior diplomats took part in a global Jewish roundtable. Among the speakers was Israel's ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, whose remarks deeply inspired those present. Letters were then written in the Washington Torah scroll to mark the historic occasion.
Additional panels addressed the challenges facing Jewish communities around the world, with the participation of the European Union ambassador and Australia's ambassador to the United States, as well as Chabad representatives from the Gulf states, Latin America, Asia and Europe. In the evening, attendees took part in a festive gala dinner at the Organization of American States building, which included a tribute to soldiers in the U.S. military and Jewish service members in the security forces.
Photo: Israel Teitelbaum
Among the participants at the gala dinner were generals, admirals and senior civilian and military officials from the U.S. security establishment, as well as the parents of Idan Alexander, the last American citizen to return from Gaza, Adi and Yael Alexander, who gave moving remarks about their visit to the Rebbe's Ohel. The keynote address was delivered by Justice Marcus Solomon, a judge on the Supreme Court of Western Australia, who spoke about the Rebbe's approach to confronting antisemitism and social and moral challenges.
On the final day of the conference, a large delegation visited the White House, where participants met with senior advisers to the president and discussed a range of issues relating to Judaism. A smaller group later met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance for "substantive and meaningful exchanges of views," as participants described them.
Photo: Israel Teitelbaum
Rabbi Shemtov emphasized that the Jewish people face unprecedented challenges, and that studying the Rebbe's teachings provides practical guidance for confronting them effectively. "The Rebbe's message was that one can remain fully committed to our values and identity while at the same time listening to others, understanding them and working for unity and mutual respect," he said.
He concluded, "Throughout history, Jews were expelled from 109 countries. Today Chabad operates in 112 countries around the world. We are here to stay. We are here to continue our work and bring more light wherever we go, until our mission is complete."
J.D. Vance, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Washington, Chabad, Yechiel Leiter
