VIP’s at Chabad for Sukkos

Over 150 Capitol Hill staffers, Members of Congress, lawyers and Jewish organizational professionals turned out for a special celebration in a beautiful sukkah on the East Front of the US Capitol.

Hundreds of students also challenged the cloudy forecast and attended the festive “Sukkot Celebration”- complete with sushi – at The George Washington University, organized by Rabbi Yudi and Rivky Steiner.

A special children’s program was organized by shluchos interns Malka Phillips and Shterna Sitrin.

A large communal sukkah at Lubavitch Center was also offered to those without their own, as well as the numerous “heimishe yidden” passing through town with their families during Chol Hamoied, who preferred to go in the derech of talmidei Baal Shem and not to eat “chutz lesukkah” even in the drizzle and rain.

Chassidim from many “kreizen” along with Litvishe, veltisheh, and all types and stripes fulfilled the Gemara’s dictum “reuin yisrael leisheiv besukah achas” on a daily basis.

MOBILE IT IS

And the Capital Sukkah Mobile could be seen cruising through the streets of Washington, DC, making stops at The National Zoo, The US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Dupont Circle Metro and American University.

It was constructed and manned by bochurim Bentzion Shemtov, Yaakov Feldman, Zalmy Schreiber, Mendy Vale and Menachem Shemtov.

Even through sporadic rain, many stopped for a brief moment, grateful for the effort, and welcoming the opportunity to perform this unique mitzvah.

Lulav and esrog were also brought and presented to staff at the Embassy of Israel, Georgetown and the Pentagon during Chol Hamoed.

JOY DESPITE RAIN

And on Simchas Torah, despite a torrential downpour, a huge crowd filled TheSHUL at Lubavitch Center in Kalorama/Embassy Row for a major kiddush, sponsored by a senior economist at the International Monetary Fund in memory of his father, followed by spirited hakofos.

Everyone from students and “young professionals” to senior diplomats and government officials, even several military personnel, were honored with psukim and with hakofos by Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the Shliach to Washington DC.

In place of selling Atoh Horeiso or a monetary appeal, people were urged to commit to keep at least one Shabbos, or get a friend to do so, and be recognized. About 20 people took up the offer. (One who did so several years ago actually became a complete Shomer Shabbos as a result.)

Dignitares in attendance included Jack Lew, President Obama’s nominee to oversee the federal budget, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Michael Oren, and even Houda Ezra Nonoo, Ambassador of Bahrain to the US, and others.

Ambassador Oren spoke between hakofos and related how years ago, in Israel, he invited a totally “secular” friend to join him for Simchas Torah. The friend asked why people would dance with something telling them everything they can’t do. Today, the ambassador shared, that friend is frum and has recently even opened his own shul!

He also related how Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu personally told him of his amazing experience and kiruvim by the Rebbe at hakofos in 770 over 25 years ago, which was a major factor in his historic speech at the United Nations last year.

Lots of dancing, followed by a farbrengen, ending well past midnight.

VIDEO: Fox News runs archive footage of Rahm Emanuel at Chabad’s National Menorah lighting