Brooklyn, NY – In her address at the concluding banquet of the 22nd-annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries, Hadassah Lieberman – wife of Connecticut’s junior U.S. senator – urged the thousands of Jewish community leaders in attendance to continue being strong advocates for strengthening their faith.
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“The world needs leaders,” she said to those seated in an expansive ballroom at the New York City Hilton hotel, “each in their own unique way.”
Lieberman, who has dedicated much of her life’s work to health issues, assisting non-profit organizations, improving educational standards, and promoting international understanding, relayed short anecdotes highlighting her family interactions with the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, and his emissaries worldwide. Among the tidbits were details of her and Joe Lieberman’s visit with the Rebbe after being elected to the Senate in 1988, and how they each received Shabbat necessities while on the campaign trail during his unsuccessful 2000 vice-presidential bid.
Calling such care packages “one of the greatest gifts on the trails,” Lieberman noted the many times that emissaries delivered candles, wine, challah and other assorted essentials to the family’s hotel as they “hop-scotched around the country to communities large and small.”
During their first weekend of the campaign, she said, they received a “magnificent Shabbat” package in Wisconsin from Rabbi Dovid Greene, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Rochester in neighboring Minnesota. Lieberman asked the rabbi what she could do to repay him.
Greene responded that she should light Shabbat candles with a Jewish staff member who hadn’t grown up practicing Judaism. Lieberman did, sharing the moment with a member of the campaign’s advance team.
“It was very special,” she told the banquet guests. “I thought of Rabbi Greene and how he influenced someone who never practiced Judaism.”
Turning to those in the room, she acknowledged the actions large and small they take on behalf of their home communities.
“I applaud you for all of your efforts,” Lieberman told the women, “and understand how much time you put into … reaching out to the community.”
In addition to the classes and discussions, “never underestimate your hot chicken soup around the table or your warm challahs that you share with the community. You help people.
“And no matter how you reach out and no matter who that is,” she added, “try to just keep strong as you reach out.”
i love chabad shluchim! they’re just unbelievable. i have my personal stories too…
I’m very impressed with the love and devotion that chabad shluchim give to all fellow yiden. NO other leader has done for klal yisroel what the Rebbe did.
hatzlucha!
Thank you to the above to comments for demonstarting Ahavas Yisroel in these difficult times for Klal Yisroel its important to remain united and its good to see the Shluchim who are so dedicated to spreading Yiddishkeit finally get the credit they deserve.
Does Mrs. Lieberman wear a sheitel?
Chabad shluchim are very nice people, G-D bless them.