New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens on Sunday to mark Gimmel Tammuz, accompanied by Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan. The Mayor called it “an emotional visit.”
By Anash.org reporter
New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the Rebbe‘s Ohel in Queens on Sunday, accompanied by Israel’s ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan.
The visit, which was to mark the Rebbe’s yom hilula on Gimmel Tammuz, a day prior, took place as thousands of men and women from around the world continued their pilgrimage to the Ohel. Mayor Adams and Ambassador Erdan wrote notes of prayer in a house near the Ohel, before entering the Ohel and reading their notes.
They then visited the kevorim of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. and of the Rebbe’s mother Rebbetzin Chana Schnneerson.
When asked for remarks while still standing near the Ohel, Mayor Adams shared his impressions of what he called an “emotional visit.”
“The Grand Rebbe comes in the spirit of those great spiritual leaders who come, and whom we are blessed with throughout our lives. And when we feel difficult times, we go to spiritual leaders to ask for blessings. It is a connection between the natural and the spiritual,” he said.
The Mayor recalled that he had also paid a visit when he was running for office “during a very difficult moment,” and had asked for a blessing. He said that he had also prayed at the Rebbe’s mother’s resting site that time as well, noting that we are all “the fruits from the fruits of our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers.”
He said he had come once again to “ask for a blessing and to say thank you.”
“It doesn’t matter what faith you are, believing in the power of blessing is not connected to any particular group,” he said.
Ambassador Erdan also offered remarks, saying he was “honored and privileged” to be paying his respects to the Rebbe together with Mayor Adams, calling him a “dear friend.”
“We all know that the Rebbe’s legacy was to make the world a better place, and today we could see around the world thousands of his emissaries, of the Chabad movement, and that is exactly what they are doing,” he said. “Going everywhere, bringing people closer to Judaism.”
“For many years the wisdom and the leadership of the Rebbe was recognized by world leaders, and the fact that Mayor Adams is here is a continuation of the legacy of the Rebbe,” the Ambassador said.
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