In a newly released video, Israel’s Chief Rabbi Harav David Yosef called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent public call for Jewish Americans to keep Shabbos.

As reported by Anash.org, President Trump issued a proclamation in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, during which he included a call for Jewish Americans to observe a “National Sabbath” as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of America.

“In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence, and on the weekend of Rededicate 250, a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath,” the President wrote. “From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great nation. This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.”

The President specifically pointed to the Shabbos of Parshas Bamidbar, the Shabbos before Shavuos, as a day to strengthen Shabbos observance and express gratitude for the United States.

Many are calling it “Shabbat 250.”

“This is something truly remarkable,” the Chief Rabbi said, “that a non-Jew so greatly honors the Jewish religion and calls on all of his citizens to respect the religion and to rest on the coming Shabbos.”

“If a non-Jew so greatly honors our religion and also calls upon non-Jews to rest on Shabbos,” he added, “all the more so we, the Jews, who have the Torah, who have our tradition, and who have the precious gift called Shabbos Kodesh.”

He went on to quote the words of Chazal that if the Jewish people keep two Shabbosos properly, they are immediately redeemed.

The Chief Rabbi later released a video in English calling on Jews around the world to heed the President’s call and unite in keeping this Shabbos.

Many Lubavitchers are noting that, b’hashgacha pratis, the Shabbos the President is referring to falls on the Shabbos before Shavuos, which for the past 40 years has been known among Chassidim as “Shabbos Achdus.”

At the farbrengen of Shabbos Bechukosai 5746 (1986), the Rebbe called on men, women, and children from around the world to gather with achdus on the Shabbos before Shavuos, as the Jewish people stood united “k’ish echad b’lev echad” before receiving the Torah. The Rebbe described it as a “bakasha nafshis,” a personal request.

VIDEOS