By COLlive reporter
One of the guests at the White House Chanukah reception last week was Jewish music star Lipa Schmeltzer and he is making sure that President Barack Obama won’t forget their brief exchange.
Following the Menorah lighting, the President engaged with some in the front lines of the crowd, including the chassidic vocalist, composer and performer known for his eccentric shtick on and off stage.
“I really wanted to give the President a different perspective on frum people,” said Schmeltzer, who is enrolled in Columbia University, learning visual arts, music and creative writing.
“I wanted him to see that Orthodox Jews are all different,” he told COLlive.com. “I am creative, I am an artist, and as you can see by my crazy funky glasses and colorful yarmulka, I have a sense of humor.
“I felt that it was a big kiddush Hashem to see a different side of us – to show the other side of the story – a different perspective, to meet me as a university student who is getting an education and an artist who is cool and with it.”
Video: Lipa meets the President
Schmeltzer, who founded a congregation called the Airmont Shul near Monsey, NY, says he was touched that the President “made time for the party and participated in it in a very kind and gracious manner.”
During their conversation, Schmeltzer offered to make Obama a yarmulka. “I am in school for visual arts, so I am working on making one myself out of real silver and gold. I am modeling it after a yarmulka created by an artist 100 years ago,” he later explained.
With the President agreeing to accept the gift, a White House aide told Schmeltzer that if he is making one for the President, a second one should be made for the First Lady as well.
“We are making it by hand and I am working with a man who makes silver ataros,” he said. “I will be making one for the President and his wife Michelle. It should be ready in about a month.”
Asked what he has learned from the experience, Schmeltzer said: “When I met the President, he greeted me with kindness and interest. I learned how important it is to recognize every person and give each person attention, when people reach out to me.”
The Rebbe greeted politicians as regular people, which is how Lipa greeted the pres. While I dislike the pres politically, we must follow the Rebbe’s example and use these opportunities to first connect as humans, creations of Hashem, then we can discuss business appropriately.
That is not right lipa is doing a BIG kidush hashem and thats all i can say
I think Lipa is very talented and a wonderful person but giving attention to the wrong guy! I think that its sad to say that Obama will not change his outlook on the jews just because Lipa made a trip to the whitehouse to entertain this horrifying, immortal President!
Don’t get me wrong though, Lipa is great!
stop with the hate!
Lipa – you’re a really nice COOL guy but – Do you really believe that good Yidden need to give a “different perspective” to Barack Hussein Obama? Where is your true Jewish pride? Sad to ask – but do you perhaps need to look at Obama’s Afrocentric Black Muslim pride and learn from him how to do it? I always find you quite entertaining – but THIS? Most of us were Yeshiva or Seminary students, highly educated in creative authentic study, critical analysis, and deep innovative interpretation. What is the Kiddush Hashem in a frum Jew showing the “other side”?… Read more »
He’s so funny.
Maybe he could be the court jester.
Here is lipa, a big star, very famous, and when he has the privilege to meet the most powerful person in the world, he chooses to proudly wear his (large!) yarmulka, payos and kapote for all to see! And he offers the president a Jewish article as a gift. I would call that a kiddush Hashem.
Lipa meeting President Obama very interesting
For those who aren’t aware exactly how to define what a kiddush hashem is I’ll be happy to explain. A kiddush hashem is when people see a yid dedicated to torah and mitzvos no matter the circumstances.
Gotta love LIPA!!
If you are comfortable with your yiddishkiet this is the biggest kiddush Hashem, one dosent have to show anyone that one is “cool and with it” cool is milushon Kar which means cold. The world respects a hot Yid one who is driven in the RBSH ways then one will get all the respect and attention they need. Hatzlocha Rabbah in finding your connection. Please consider a daily shiur in Chassidus chabad.
#2: Not like the prez, who is NOT a good man and who DOES NOT help out the ill, or anybody else who happens to be a Jew.
Lipa is a good man. He makes people happy and helps out the ill.
Next time meeting the president ask to free Sholom Mordichai Rubashkin. Or put that on your yamilkas.