Walking the Halls of Power with the Rebbe’s Strength

In an interview with Menachem Cohen, Rabbi Levi Shemtov reflects on over 30 years as the Rebbe’s shliach to Washington D.C., sharing behind-the-scenes stories of bridging political divides, connecting with diplomats and Arab royals, and the lasting strength of the Rebbe’s guidance.

By Anash.org reporter

For over three decades, Rabbi Levi Shemtov has served as the Rebbe’s shliach in Washington, D.C., building bridges at the heart of the world’s political power. In a candid conversation with Menachem Cohen held last week, Rabbi Shemtov reflects on his mission, the challenges of our times, and the quiet strength that sustains him.

He shares insights into his work with members of Congress and senior U.S. officials, unexpected ties with leaders in the Arab world, the delicate task of avoiding political entanglements, and the behind-the-scenes stories of his visit to the Rebbe’s Ohel with President Trump.

“These are very complicated days,” he says. “I’ve been in Washington for 33 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. People are afraid, but at the same time, new opportunities are opening that we never saw before. The Rebbe always told us not to be too impressed by the world. Rabbi Chodakov once told my father: ‘You have to consider the world, but never be impressed by it.’”

When asked how he navigates being both a shliach and a resident of Washington, Rabbi Shemtov answers humbly, “I’m not a particularly talented or important person, but I’m the Rebbe’s shliach. That gives me strength. When I face something hard, I think – what would the Rebbe say to me now?”

He notes that when Yosef faced difficulty, he saw the image of his father, Yaakov. “For me, that’s the Rebbe. Sometimes I imagine what my own father would tell me, and he’d say: Levi! Think about what the Rebbe would say.”

People often wonder how he’s able to walk into rooms with world leaders without being overwhelmed. His answer is simple: he never walks in alone. “If you walked into a fancy office alone, you might feel small,” he explains. “But if you knew you had thousands of people with you, you’d walk differently. That’s how I feel – I walk in with all the shluchim, with the koach of the Rebbe.”

He recounts a story about a ceremony held after Gimmel Tammuz, where the U.S. Congress honored the Rebbe with the Congressional Gold Medal. Both Republican and Democrat leaders stood on the same stage, publicly stating their admiration for the Rebbe – despite their open political disagreements. “They didn’t coordinate beforehand,” he notes. “Each one spoke from the heart. It was a moment to witness – the Rebbe’s influence bringing people together in a real, tangible way.”

Rabbi Shemtov has developed close relationships not only in political circles, but even with Arab and Muslim leaders in the Middle East. He tells of a king who stood up to receive a bracha from him, saying, “I want to be your king, if you return to live in my country.” These moments, he says, are made possible because of one thing: the Rebbe’s message. “They may not agree with our politics, but they respect strength. And they sense truth. The ultimate and eternal truth”

One particularly moving encounter Rabbi Shmetov relates is when he spoke with a leading Muslim figure in Saudi Arabia about the Rambam. The man told him, “In matters of religion, he’s yours. But in medicine and philosophy, he’s also ours.” These kinds of conversations, he explains, are only possible when we speak as Jews who are deeply committed to our yiddishkeit. “They told me openly,” he adds, “secular Jews can’t reach us the way religious Jews can. If there were more people like you involved, things would improve much faster.”

Back home in Washington, the Chabad House near the White House continues its unique mission. It has no fixed community, yet it serves hundreds – perhaps thousands – of staffers, diplomats, and professionals who pass through its doors. On Yom Tov or at a Shabbos meal, one can find people from opposite sides of the political aisle sitting at the same table.

“There are so many who met each other only because of Chabad,” he says. “They can’t interact politically, but at a Shabbos table, they’re just fellow Jews.” He speaks about how he sets up a sukkah outside the Capitol – a project that required navigating countless permits, and one year, they even managed to build a sukkah on the grounds of the White House itself.

He also shares details of a new initiative: a Torah scroll being written entirely within the city, with different pessukim being inscribed in a place that matches its meaning – “Tzedek tzedek tirdof” at the Supreme Court, “Ve’rapo yerapeh” at the Department of Health, “U’lekachtem lachem” outside the USDA. He hopes the completed Torah will be paraded publicly on Pennsylvania Avenue in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, with the White House already expressing interest in including it in the official celebrations.

Throughout the interview, Rabbi Shemtov returns to one central theme: being a shliach is not a title – it’s a responsibility.

“I may be almost 57,” he says, “but when I have a question, I still call my father (Rabbi Avraham Shemtov). I won’t act against his guidance, because I know that when the Rebbe gave me this mission, it was under my father’s direction. If you go on shlichus, and ignore the one who sent you – what kind of shliach are you?”

Reflecting on Gimmel Tammuz, Rabbi Shemtov becomes emotional. “I miss the Rebbe. I miss receiving answers. I miss knowing the Rebbe saw my pann.” But he rejects despair. “The Rebbe came into the world at a time when Yidden had every reason to give up, and he said: no despair. That’s what the Rebbe taught us and teaches us.”

And that’s the message he holds onto.

“Every shliach has to ask himself: What more can I do? I know I’m not doing enough. I can do more. And we’ll know we’ve done enough when Moshiach comes.”

FULL INTERVIEW (Hebrew):