Governor Hochul visits Rebbe’s Ohel in Cambria Heights
by CrownHeights.info
New York Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Ohel of The Lubavitcher Rebbe on Friday, paying tribute to the Rebbe’s enduring legacy and honoring the memory of Ari Halberstam, who was murdered in an antisemitic terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge 32 years ago.
During her visit, Governor Hochul paid her respects at the resting places of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, his father-in-law, the Frierdiker Rebbe, and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. She left a personal note at the Ohel, gave tzedakah, read Tehillim, and lit a yahrtzeit candle alongside Devorah Halberstam.
The Governor also visited the grave of Ari Halberstam, whose life was cut short in the 1994 Brooklyn Bridge shooting. Ari’s murder remains a painful reminder of the threat of antisemitic violence and the lasting impact of hatred on Jewish families and communities.
Reflecting on her visit, Hochul spoke of the Rebbe’s profound influence on Jewish life in New York and around the world, as well as his broader impact on humanity.
“As Governor of the state with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, I was humbled to once again visit the Chabad Ohel Lubavitch to honor Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson,” Hochul said. “The Rebbe and his wife Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson miraculously escaped Nazi Europe and arrived in New York in 1941 and spent his life rebuilding the Jewish community as the founder of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. The legacy of the Rebbe continues to be felt throughout New York State and his profound impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Hochul also reflected on the continued significance of Ari Halberstam’s memory and the importance of confronting antisemitism.
“It is always a profoundly moving experience to stand alongside Devorah Halberstam at her son Ari’s gravesite,” she said. “Ari’s promising life was cut short in an act of antisemitic terror on the Brooklyn Bridge 32 years ago. His loss continues to be felt deeply in New York and across the world. May his memory inspire us to remain committed to combating antisemitism and hate.”
The Governor was accompanied during the visit by Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, Devorah Halberstam, and Rabbi Motti Seligson.
The visit highlighted the Rebbe’s lasting influence on Jewish life, his vision of spreading goodness and kindness throughout the world, and the ongoing responsibility to confront antisemitism while preserving the memory of its victims.
