Students See the U.S. in New Light

100 Israeli university students concluded an uplifting and eventful trip to the United States in appreciation for their participation in the Maamikim learning program.

The week-long trip was organized by Chabad on Campus Israel in cooperation with the Chabad Shluchim on campuses around Israel – a new and growing outreach segment in the country. The trip was coordinated by Fleishman Production / Fleishman Peles VIP.

The opening of the trip was in New York with a visit to Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, a tour of the Crown Heights Jewish community and a visit to the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens.

From there they traveled to the ivy league Princeton University in New Jersey where they were welcomed by the Chabad on Campus led by Rabbi Eitan Webb and Rabbi Bentzi Brook. They heard from several of its professors.

The next morning, the students traveled to the city of Philadelphia and were treated to a tour of its historical role in the founding of the United States. On the way to the Liberty Bell and other sites, participants spent time learning Chassidus.

A final stop was in Washington, DC, where they were warmly welcomed at the headquarters of American Friends of Lubavitch. During a sit-down dinner they heard from its director and the local Shliach Rabbi Levi Shemtov.

Speakers included Ambassador Norm Eisen, who was Special Counsel at the White House and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Famously a Shomer Shabbos, Eisen enthralled the Israelis with stories of his public service.

They also heard from Lt. Col. David Rosner who shared many experiences of his time serving abroad as an observant Jew. And the next day they heard from Undersecretary of the Treasury Adam Szubin. They also heard from students about efforts to support Israel and fight BDS.

The group finished their day in Washington at an elegant dinner with students at Chabad GW – Lubavitch Jewish Student Center at George Washington University, with special speakers including Chanan Weissman, White House Liaison to the Jewish Community.

From there, the group returned to New York where they spent Shabbos in Crown Heights and at the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens, New York, concluding a memorable and spiritual journey across the Atlantic.