This past week, I had two unusual experiences.
It began with a phone call from a friend expressing her deep sadness in not having seen her daughter, an only child, in many months. Her daughter has made Aliyah and is currently a lone soldier in Israel. Due to the current instability in the region, plans for a visit had kept changing. Her husband was unable to travel with her at that time, and being hesitant under the circumstances to travel alone, she was unsure what to do. We discussed how the President was scheduled to travel to China over those next few days, and the assumption was things would at least be calm for that brief window. Half jokingly, she asked if I would consider seizing the moment and making the immediate trip with her.
As a mother, understanding how much this meant to her, and with the encouragement of my husband, and the stipulation that I had to return to DC by that Friday for the “Shabbat 250” celebration at the White House, I said yes. Thankfully I was able to adjust my schedule and 8 hours later I was off to meet her!
We had a whirlwind 30 hours in Israel where she connected with her daughter, and I was blessed to be able to pray at the Kotel, visit with family and feel the special joy of our holy city.
We returned on Friday morning, and what an incredible and memorable experience awaited us at the White House Shabbat 250. I was honored to be part of that celebration, and delighted that my silver Shabbat candlesticks, a wedding gift from my in-laws, were the ones used to officially launch and usher in the momentous occasion. The President had declared this weekend as “Shabbat 250” to mark 250 years since US Independence, and encouraged Jews to keep this Shabbat. To that end, there was an official pre-Shabbat reception at the White House with meaningful remarks and a symbolic Shabbat table set up. The candles were then lit and the bracha, the prayer recited. The reception was followed by a beautiful Shabbat dinner. (My husband recited the Kiddush on a special cup, one given to him by the survivors of Kibbutz Be’eri.)
Living in Washington, it is easy at times to become somewhat jaded by political events and ceremonies. But as a Jew, this was truly one of the most meaningful and special experiences I have ever had.
I found myself reflecting on how, throughout history, antisemitism has so often come from the top down - initiated and legitimized by governments before filtering into the larger society. We saw this most horrifyingly in Nazi Germany, where hatred toward Jews was not only tolerated, but promoted and institutionalized by those in power.
And while Jews today continue to face very real challenges both in the United States and around the world, I could not help but feel deeply grateful that here, in this great American moment, we are actually experiencing the opposite. From the highest levels of our government and administration, we are being shown friendship, support, and encouragement to live openly and proudly as Jews.
To stand in the White House as Shabbat was officially recognized and celebrated - not merely tolerated, but encouraged - was incredibly moving. The President did not simply acknowledge the Jewish community; he encouraged Jews across the country to embrace and celebrate Shabbat and our heritage more fully in our own way. That felt profoundly meaningful.
I also could not ignore the powerful juxtaposition of spending time in Jerusalem, celebrating the joy and holiness of the city, reflecting on the ongoing challenges of Jewish life in Israel, and then, just two days later, standing in Washington celebrating “Shabbat 250”. It reminded me of the deep connection between America and Israel, and of how meaningful it is to have an ally that supports both Israel’s right to exist and thrive as a Jewish homeland, and the ability of Jews in America to live proudly and freely as Jews.
May that alliance always remain strong and may Hashem/Gd bless the Jews the world over with appropriate protection and support from their Governments and leaders.
Nechama Shemtov is an internationally acclaimed speaker, educator, life/relationship mentor and community leader based in Washington, D.C.