WASHINGTON – In a wide-ranging and heartfelt feature article published this week, The Jerusalem Post turned the spotlight on one of Washington’s most quietly influential figures: Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Chabad’s top emissary in the U.S. capital and executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).
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Titled “A Global Rabbi in the Capital of Power,” the article portrays Shemtov as a unique blend of spiritual leader, community builder, and behind-the-scenes diplomat who has spent more than three decades bringing Jewish tradition to the heart of global decision-making.
Appointed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt”l, in the early 1990s, Rabbi Shemtov was among the last Chabad shluchim personally dispatched by the Rebbe before his passing. The article traces Shemtov’s journey from assisting his father—Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chabad’s early representative to Washington—to establishing six thriving Chabad centers across the city, including the iconic Shul of the Nation’s Capital.
The Jerusalem Post notes that Rabbi Shemtov has hosted generations of political leaders at Chabad events, including U.S. presidents, members of Congress from both parties, foreign ambassadors, and even Middle Eastern royalty. His leadership of the National Menorah lighting across from the White House has become a Washington tradition, as have his famed bipartisan Lamplighter Awards, where Republicans and Democrats routinely find common ground through Jewish values.
“Rabbi Shemtov has become a symbol of Jewish continuity and pride in a town often dominated by partisanship and policy,” the article states. “He’s not there to lobby—he’s there to light.”
But it’s not only about the pageantry. The piece highlights Shemtov’s role in fostering dialogue with Arab leaders, beginning well before the Abraham Accords. From his landmark remarks to Saudi Ambassador Prince Turki al-Faisal in 2007 to his close relationships with Gulf diplomats today, Shemtov has consistently preached the power of faith-based diplomacy.
“An honest and unapologetic expression of Jewish identity earns more respect than attempts to secularize our message,” Shemtov is quoted as saying.
The article also touches on his concerns over rising antisemitism and his belief that combating hate must go hand-in-hand with education and pride. “The best response to antisemitism,” he says, “is ‘semitism’—knowing who we are, and being proud of it.”
With an eye on the future, The Jerusalem Post concludes by praising Shemtov’s bold yet thoughtful leadership as a model for the next generation.
“In a world of noise, Rabbi Shemtov offers clarity. In a city of politics, he offers purpose. And in a time of uncertainty, he offers Jewish pride—unfiltered, unwavering, and deeply rooted.”
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