Globetrotting Senator Tells of Worldwide Organization

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a speech Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) gave at Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton Beach in Florida back in January. The four-term senator, who received a charity box from the congregation, told the more than 300 people gathered in the sanctuary about guidance he received from the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory.

We are an extraordinarily lucky generation of Jews, and a particularly blessed generation of Jewish Americans. We live in this country that has given us more opportunity, freedom, respect and success than anywhere in the six millennia of Jewish history outside the State of Israel. And we live at a time when the state of Israel is reborn; it’s quite a remarkable and fortunate time to be alive.

Both of these countries are founded on principles, by a set of ideals, of the work of every human being, of the right of every human being to try to develop themselves to the maximum. We say in our Declaration of Independence that we are all endowed with these rights from our Creator; in the case of Israel, these rights are described even earlier in the Torah.

Chabad-Lubavitch is an extraordinary movement. It was my honor to spend some occasions with the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. He was a powering figure, obviously a great sage in our time. He was learned deeply in Jewish subjects, but he was very learned in subjects of the world.

I’ll tell you this little bit, when I started corresponding with him when I was elected to an earlier office, he wrote me back and quoted the words of prophet Jeremiah, which were to seek the welfare, the wellbeing of the community in which you live. In the county which you live, and in its wellbeing, you will find your freedom and peace. It was a grateful thought and I appreciated it.

Article continued (Chabad.org News)