By COLlive reporter
Photos by Carlos Chattah / The Shul
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) today attended (and in a first for him) spoke at The SHUL in Bal Harbour, Florida, an affiliate of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and one of America’s largest and most beautiful Jewish houses of worship and study.
In introducing the Speaker, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) in Washington, DC, which helped coordinate the visit, referenced this week’s Torah reading when he spoke of the central value of a strong legislative body, which upholds civic and civilized life within society.
Drawing on his own life story, Speaker Boehner, who is Catholic, related how he became involved in the Ohio State Legislature, then the US Congress. While still a State legislator, a colleague invited him to Israel, where he developed a love for Holy Land and the Jewish people. He has been back many times since.
The Speaker, who shared his strongly supportive views regarding the US-Israel relationship, pledged to ensure that under his watch the trust between Israel and America is maintained to the benefit of our mutual defense. He additionally spoke on the importance of education in society (he was Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee) andnoted how he is proud to have on his team the highest ranking Jewish official in US history, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA).
The event was superbly hosted by Rabbi Shalom B. Lipskar, the dynamic spiritual leader of The SHUL and founder of the Aleph Institute, a premier provider of important services to thousands of Jewish men and women serving in the US Armed Forces, as well as those in the Jewish community who are in the prison system and their families.
“It’s a very special opportunity to welcome such a prestigious guest into our community, and to recognize his staunch support of Israel and our community’s values, particularly a concentrated focus on education,” said Rabbi Lipskar.
The Aleph Institute was holding its annual leadership conference this weekend, with many senior military personnel participating, and Speaker Boehner was particularly delighted to meet the Jewish military officers and servicemen and women, along with other leaders of the community, who were honored to be greeted by America’s third highest official.
The 10th Annual Aleph Auction will be held Monday night, February 13 at 7 PM at the Shul. Proceeds directly benefit Aleph’s military programs. Tickets may be purchased all day Monday until 10 pm at AlephAuction.org
Yasher Koach!!!
what a power couple!!
your friends on Barithurst
to work with Rabbi Levi Shemtov there is nobody like him WOW! we should thank Hashem for Rabbi Levi shemtov WOW!
Levi is from the very very few pepole who you can say is from the 100 precnters .
He truly deals and does for all alike no mater you status or stature.
RLS is amazing in what he does. He looks after “the little guy guy” too
Nice to see you keep the fire burning.
I worked for him as a bochur as well as for several other Shluchim. He is put in a lot of difficult situations. I can tell you that he deals with it by saying “what would I tell the rebbe I did”. That has brought him and will iyh continue to bring him much hatzlacha.
Dl Andruseir u are the BEST!!!!!!!!! Always with a smile. Always trying to help!!! Dl is a true shlucha of the Rebbe.
You go Chaplain Goldstein , Our man in the military. An ongoing Kiddush Hashem
Someone should do a story on a day in his life. I was zoiche to sepnd two days with him and see the tremendous kiddush hashem that he makes. In those two days, i saw him doing to amazing things that never got reported in the press. he was helping a shliach in a far away country with a big problem and the yeshiva gedoilah in lakewood, the same day and without flinching. I also wen’t with him to a diplomatic event that he stopped into and saw his power in the city and at the same time no comporomise… Read more »
You accomplish in a day what others can’t dream of in a lifetime.
A hard working mentsch!
The behind the scene unsung heros of Aleph!
. .they all sat down to some good old bagels and lox!
Spending a few days in Bal Harbour. Rabbi Lipskar Chazak Veamatz. What a great kehillah you have built. Shabbos in Bal Harbour is a unique experience. Amazing Thanks
Aint noone like him anywhere. Period.
The Rebbes a Mentch
The 2 unsung heroes of the Aleph Institute – Kol Hakavod
Shemtov and Lipsker accomplishment. Chabad in DC one of Chabad’s great success stories. Thanks to REb Levi and his Dad
Zalman Lipskar you’re the top!
We’re lucky to have Rabbi Levi Shemtov as Chabad’s man in Washington! Shluchim benefit all over the world because of him.
Great to see him and Rabbi Lipsker – 2 of Chabad’s great powerhouses, working so closely together. We need more Achdus like this