In a remarkable display of how the Rebbe’s Mivtza Tefillin has expanded beyond the Lubavitch domain, Democrat assemblyman Aron Wieder, a Belzer Chossid sworn into office last week, helped Republican Assemblyman Scott Bendett put on Tefillin, and together they recited the Shema.
VIN and Anash.org
New York State assemblyman Aron Wieder was officially sworn into office Wednesday on the opening day of the New York State Assembly, marking the beginning of his term as a representative for Rockland County. Following the swearing-in, Wieder, a Democrat, connected with fellow lawmakers on the Assembly floor, fostering relationships across party lines.
Wieder, a member of the Belz community, ran for office with the backing of the Belzer Rebbe, who, unlike leaders of some other Chassidic circles, has been notably open to outreach and engaging with other Jews. Wieder has publicly stated in the past that Mivtza Tefillin is not solely a Lubavitch initiative but a responsibility of Klal Yisroel as a whole.
During his first walk around the chamber, Wieder struck up a conversation with Republican Assemblyman Scott Bendett (107th District), who introduced himself with a touch of humor as a “Jewbilly,” describing himself as a Jewish hillbilly living in the countryside, as he has represented most of Rensselaer County and portions of Washington and Columbia as a conservative Republican since 2023.
The friendly exchange quickly evolved into a deeper discussion about Jewish traditions. Wieder inquired if Bendett was familiar with the practice of putting on tefillin, a Jewish ritual. Bendett, acknowledging his familiarity with the tradition and expressed his willingness to do so in his lobby office.
Wieder then brought a pair of tefillin to Bendett’s office, and helped place Tefillin on Bendett, with both of them reciting the Shema prayer together. The moment was a poignant display of shared heritage and unity despite opposing political views, captured in photos and videos.
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