Empowered for the UN: Netanyahu Sent Off ‘L’Chatchila Ariber’

A delegation of senior Chabad rabbonim and representatives met with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu shortly before his departure for New York, offering words of support ahead of his major address defending Israel and Am Yisroel at the United Nations, and presenting him with Daled Minim and a newly published book on the Rebbe’s approach to matters of security and Eretz Yisroel.

The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room shortly before Netanyahu boarded the “Wing of Zion” aircraft for his brief trip to New York. With the prime minister preparing to confront a hostile atmosphere at the UN and what he described as a worldwide campaign of lies against the Jewish state, the Chabad representatives sought to strengthen him for the task ahead.

The timing also coincided with Yud Gimmel Tishrei, the yom hilula of the Rebbe Maharash, and the delegation shared with Netanyahu the Rebbe Maharash’s famous approach of L’chatchila Ariber. They explained the idea of approaching an obstacle from the outset by rising above it rather than first attempting to go around or underneath it, acting with confidence and refusing to be confined by the limitations of the situation.

Netanyahu showed particular interest in the concept and asked what was unique about the approach of L’chatchila Ariber. The conversation culminated with the prime minister joining the delegation in singing the well-known Chabad niggun of L’chatchila Ariber.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Aharonov, chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad and Tzeirei Agudas Chabad in Eretz Yisroel, presented Netanyahu with a set of Daled Minim for Sukkos and addressed him ahead of his departure.

“The Rebbe gave you a shlichus to kindle a small light in the house of darkness, the UN,” Rabbi Aharonov told him. “You are going there with a great torch in the name of all of Am Yisroel.”

During the conversation, Rabbi Chaim Yankel Leibowitz told Netanyahu that during his tenure as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, the Rebbe had taken a keen interest in his address to the UN and had listened to the speech.

Netanyahu responded that he had not known this.

“You understand what a great responsibility rests upon you when the Rebbe himself attached importance to your speeches at the UN,” Rabbi Leibowitz told him. “And now, when you go there, know that you are going on the Rebbe’s shlichus.”

The delegation also presented Netanyahu with the newly published book Oseh Shalom, dealing with the Rebbe’s approach to diplomatic and security issues currently facing Israel. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, deputy secretary of the Chabad Beis Din in Eretz Yisroel, showed the prime minister selected passages from the book.

At one point, Rabbi Leibowitz told him that a summary of the sefer had been prepared for the prime minister. “A summary?!” Netanyahu responded. “I’ll sit on the flight and return the sefer to you with notes and highlights!”

Hours later, Netanyahu stood at the UN General Assembly podium for the centerpiece of his lightning visit, addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the war against terrorism and the international criticism directed at Israel.

Before leaving Eretz Yisroel, Netanyahu had pledged to confront what he called the “terrible lies” being spread against the Jewish state, declaring, “I will fight for the truth.”

At the UN, he presented Israel’s case before the international community, insisting that the Jewish state would continue defending itself against the threats surrounding it. He concluded his address with the declaration, “Chag Sameach L’Am Yisrael!”

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302, was on hand during Netanyahu’s address at the UN, lending his support as the prime minister delivered his message before the international body. As various representatives at the UN walked out on his address, spectators chanted proudly “Am Yisrael Chai!”

Participating in the meeting in Israel were Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, deputy secretary of the Chabad Beis Din; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Aharonov, chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad and Tzeirei Agudas Chabad; Rabbi Ariel Lemberg, secretary-general of Agudas Chassidei Chabad; Rabbi Yechiel Gluckowsky, shliach to the Science Park and rov of the young community in Rechovot; Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Leibowitz; and shliach Rabbi Or Ziv.