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Rabbi Levi Shemtov is the executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad). He serves the Jewish community of Washington, D.C., as well as the daily governmental and diplomatic needs of the international Chabad-Lubavitch movement.[1][2]
Known for his high-level bipartisan connections and influence, He has been dubbed "the rabbi of Capitol Hill", "a Washington institution", "one of the most unlikely players in the nation's capital", "a fixture on the diplomatic circuit", and "one of the most savvy politicos in town".[3][4]
Rabbi Shemtov Is the organizer and director of The National Menorah Lighting on the White House Ellipse. Known as the premiere annual Hanukkah celebration, The National Menorah was established by Rabbi Abraham Shemtov in 1979 and has since been attended by then-president Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, and annually attended by members of the current administration. The National Menorah is annually attended by thousands and viewed by over 70 million.
Shemtov is the founder and spiritual leader of TheSHUL of the Nation's Capital, an orthodox synagogue located at the Chabad-Lubavitch Center in Washington, DC. TheSHUL offers a place for worship and community, regardless of formal affiliation – and offers children's programs, Torah study opportunities, and engaging celebrations of Shabbat and Jewish holidays.[5][6] TheSHUL is known to be attended by high-level political figures from both sides of the aisle. From White House Chief of Staff, Press Secretary’s, and Senior Advisers.[7][8]
Shemtov chairs the organizing committee of the International Chabad-Lubavitch Conference – Living Legacy, which facilitates substantial high-level interaction between rabbis and communal leadership from across the globe and prominent US and international figures in the arenas of government, diplomacy, academia and the arts.[9]
Shemtov is a member of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Washington, the leading group of orthodox rabbis and kosher certification of the Greater Washington area.
- ^ "The Rebbe's Man in Washington". Mishpacha Magazine. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ Fishkoff, Sue (2013). The Rebbe's Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch. Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-307-56614-0. OCLC 869410097.
- ^ Zauzmer, Julie. "Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ Broadway, Bill (1999-07-03). "Hasidic Outpost in D.C." Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Jared and Ivanka's rabbi, Chabad's top man in DC, is optimistic about the coming transition". J. 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's choice of neighborhood narrows the focus on Chabad". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Jared Kushner's DC rabbi offers spiritual home to both sides of political aisle". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Jack Lew: The First Orthodox Jewish Treasury Secretary". Tablet Magazine. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Living Legacy Felt in Washington". COLlive. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2021-03-10.