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By Mordechai Lightstone · November 8, 2011
Rabbi
Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of
Lubavitch, Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner and Democratic
Whip Steny Hoyer.
Partisan fighting, political gridlock, and a
congressional popularity rating of only 9% have become the norm in
Washington. But in a rare show of bi-partisanship, Republican Speaker
of the House John Boehner and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer took the
stage together at a benefit event honoring American Friends of
Lubavitch.
A virtual “who’s who” of the DC Jewish scene, the annual banquet has
drawn the wider interest of politicians, lobbyists and philanthropists
alike. Even beverage conglomerate Coca-Cola took part by sponsoring the
evening.
Among those honored were ProFunds mutual funds president, Louis and
wife Manette Mayberg. The couple was honored for their philanthropic
work in DC and the greater Jewish communities. The Leadership Award,
introduced by Whip Hoyer and bestowed on Speaker Boehner was perhaps
the highlight of the evening.
The rapport between the two congressmen and their willingness to come
together for a common cause was not lost on guests. Noah Pollak,
Executive Director for the Emergency Committee for Israel,posted on
Twitter, that there was “a real love-in going on between Steny Hoyer
and John Boehner” at the dinner, noting that it was a “nice moment.”
Addressing the crowd, Speaker Boehner affirmed his continued support of Israel.
“We do not support Israel for the Jewish people,” Speaker Boehner
noted. “Rather [we support it] for all people in the world who seek
peace and freedom."
Also honored at the event was Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, former US
Ambassador to the European Union and member of the Board of Advisers of
the Global Panel Foundation. Eizenstat recalled that while serving as
White House Domestic Policy Advisor to President Carter, he helped
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, put up a
large menorah across from the White House back in 1979. President
Carter, then occupied with the ongoing Iran Hostage Crisis, made his
first public appearance since the start of crisis at the public
lighting of the menorah.
According to Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American
Friends of Lubavitch in Washington, DC and chair of the benefit, beyond
the bi-partisan participation on the banquet dais, the “diverse range
of backgrounds and beliefs” of banquet attendees was “a testament to
Chabad’s work in America.”
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