President Herzog Meets Chabad Emissaries During Historic Visit to Latvia

As part of his official visit to the Baltic states, Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived this morning in Riga, Latvia’s capital, where he met with the Chabad representatives serving the local Jewish community under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Glazman and his wife, Rebbetzin Rivka Glazman. The Rebbetzin shared with the President an overview of Chabad’s decades-long educational, social, and religious activity in Latvia.

During the visit, President Herzog was presented with a rare and personal piece of history by Rabbi Shneor Kot, Chabad emissary in Riga, and Rabbi Mendy Zilbershtrom, emissary in the resort city of Jūrmala. The rabbis revealed a handwritten letter from the President’s grandfather, dating back to 1937, addressed to Rabbi Binyamin Nachum Zilbershtrom, of blessed memory — the grandfather of Rabbi Mendy Zilbershtrom — expressing deep appreciation for their longstanding friendship.

Clearly moved by the encounter, President Herzog concluded, “Chabad is good, and it’s good they are everywhere.”