By COLlive reporter
Chabad Shluchim took turns this week to engage with Jews attending the 2016 Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Between voting in Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine as their nominees for President and Vice President in the upcoming general election, Jewish delegates and activists made time to do Mitzvos.
Rabbi Hirshi Sputz of Center City Chabad, located near the convention, had his hands full walking around with a pair of Tefillin and chatting about Jewish heritage to attendees.
One key point of discussion Chabad Rabbis set forth to all they met was the unconditional support required for Israel’s safety and security, and the growing threat of anti-Semitism in Europe.
During one of the days of the convention, a group of Jewish Democrats stepped out to the Chabad center to enjoy a Lunch and Learn meal and Torah learning with Rabbi Sputz.
Visiting Chabad was actually one of the recommended “10 Jewish Things To Do In Philly During The DNC,” in an article published on the website BuzzFeed.com with a list of “10 fun Jewishly-inspired things to do” in town.
Number 6 on the list was: “Volunteer at the Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) — spend a few hours packing food for families in need. (Next distribution, August 7th).”
The agency is a project of the Lubavitch House at the University of Pennsylvania, whose aim is to identify and feed needy Jewish clients in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Its founder, Shliach Rabbi Menachem Schmidt told COLlive he was grateful for the mention as a place all Jews can feel welcome and help the less fortunate. “This is one place where politics is not part of the equation,” he said.
Chabad’s bi-partisan stance was evident at a reception of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) when Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz gave a shoutout to Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).
Over the convention, Rabbi Shemtov and his son Rabbi Menachem Shemtov met with the likes of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon known for his friendship with Chabad.
it would be quite a shame if chabad was not there, putting on a tefillin and making a statement that a Jew is a Jew, no matter what side of politics he is on. We are bi-partisan, we are in it for the souls and nothing more. Regardless, supporting a democrat doesn’t necessarily even mean supporting handouts- but that topic is irrelevant to the article.
When a person is willing to vote for a plotical party/platform that is completely antithetical to Judaism and Torah values – then I guess you could that a “hand out” mentality. That’s probably one way to describe it. Perhaps we could try and put our Faith and Trust in G-d…rather than the Democrats and their “gender neutral” bathrooms? What kind of an example are we setting for our children and to future generations? What kind of future are we condemning them to?
Republican jews, democrat jews, jews for meretz, jews who don’t vote for anyone…we are for all of them
Some of us work extremely hard for a living, and still need the “handouts” (as you call them) due to our growing families etc.
is that a handout mentality?
All gender bathrooms define the democrat party very well…
These people that burned the Israeli flag were those that left the Democratic Party and protested the Democratic Party.
It’s a shame that there are people out there who are willing to sell themselves out for hand outs. There should be a campaign where people are encouraged/taught/educated to be self sufficient. The welfare culture of hands outs and entitelments must end. Such culture only has disasterous consequences.
shame on you how can you do this? republicans also support welfare and food stamp dont worry.
thank you #1
The article didn’t mention that they burned the Israeli flag outside the convention. The had a Palestinian Flag in the audience. It is TIME for all Jews to side with the Republican party. These are the same people that passed the Iran deal. That was the worst thing ever. Did they even listen when Benjamin Netanyahu begged the US to stop the deal. Please listen for the sake of your children and grandchildren. Get off the entitlements that the Democrats feed you…. Please…. I am a child for survivors and know what I am talking about.