Shliach Joins Minister’s Flight

By COLlive reporter

German Education Minister Annette Schavan invited a Chabad rabbi to accompany her on a trip to Israel this past month.

Rabbi Schneur Trebnik, Chief Rabbi of the city of Ulm and Director of Chabad of Wurttemberg, joined the delegation of the minister who hails from the state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

Prof. Dr. Schavan, a driving force behind Germany’s progress in education, research and science, received an honorary doctorate degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

According to Hebrew University president, Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, “The high number of honorary doctorate degrees being awarded to German recipients reflects the growing cooperation between Israel and Germany in the field of higher education, much of which has manifested itself at the Hebrew University.”

Flying to Israel, the minister asked Rabbi Trebnik to write chapter 122 in Tehillim for her so she could recite it in Hebrew at her commencement speech.

And before he had a chance to enjoy the packaged Kosher meal waiting for him, the Shliach presented her with a book about the revival of Jewish life in her state since the Holocaust.

“We spoke about the new shul that is being built in Ulm and about the state of Jewish communities around Germany,” he said.

“The minister took a keen interest and promised to visit the Chabad House, and to continue to support the local Jewish community to the best of her ablilities.”

Rabbi Trebnik said that the crowd at Hebrew U was extremly touched when Minister Schavan, a vocal supporter of Israel, read “Our feet were standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.”