In an unbelievable twist, non-Jewish Argentine President Javier Milei gifted Israel’s PM Benyamin Netanyahu with a striking painting of Netanyahu’s encounter with the Rebbe. Their conversation turned to their admiration for the Rebbe, with Netanyahu referring to the Rebbe as a “prophet.”
By Anash.org reporter
President Javier Milei of Argentina landed in Israel on Tuesday for a packed 48-hour visit, during which he met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. At their meeting, held at the King David Hotel, Milei presented the Prime Minister with a striking gift: a painting portraying Netanyahu’s visit with the Rebbe on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5751 (1990).
What followed was a fascinating and heartfelt conversation between the two leaders about the Rebbe. Netanyahu described the Rebbe as “a prophet,” recalling in vivid detail the Rebbe’s powerful words to him during that visit.
The idea for the gift came after Milei himself received a symbolic painting of a meeting between him and the Rebbe in honor of the Rebbe’s most recent birthday. Deeply moved by the artwork, Milei expressed a desire to gift Netanyahu a similar painting.
The project was arranged by the Rebbe’s shluchim in Argentina – Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt and his son-in-law Rabbi Chaim Oirechman – with the painting initiated and completed by Rabbi Daniel Benayon, a Chabad chossid in Buenos Aires.
After receiving the painting meant for Netanyahu, Milei asked to watch video footage of the Prime Minister’s original visit to the Rebbe, saying he wanted to feel the moment before presenting the gift in person.
Netanyahu was visibly moved by the painting, “That’s it!, he exclaimed and proceeded to share the Rebbe’s words from his first time meeting with the Rebbe:
“The Rebbe told me I’m going to the UN, a place of lies and darkness, but even one small candle can push away a lot of darkness. When I told him I’m returning to Israel, he said, ‘Don’t be disheartened that you’ll have to struggle with 119 Knesset members – G-d is with you.’ He didn’t leave me even one,” Netanyahu quipped.
In response, President Milei told Netanyahu: “If you listen to my UN speeches, you’ll see that much of what I say is based on the Rebbe’s teachings.”
Netanyahu replied: “He was an unbelievable man – an amazing man. He was a prophet. He had these laser-blue eyes and such a clear, prophetic vision.” He added that the gift was very dear to him.
During the official welcome ceremony at the President Isaac Herzog’s Residence, Herzog praised the friendship and principled leadership of the Argentine president by quoting the Rebbe in his remarks honoring Milei: “The small daily actions we do are what transform two people from ‘I and you’ into ‘we.’”
VIDEO: Milei gifts Netanyahu the Rebbe painting
VIDEO: President Herzog quotes the Rebbe in his talk
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