Argentina’s new president visited the Queens grave of one of the most revered rabbis in modern history on Monday and paid his respects while meeting with Jewish leaders in the Big Apple.
Javier Milei, a passionate libertarian and outspoken admirer of Israel who has been fostering a close relationship with New York’s Hasidic community since long before his October 22 election victory, stopped at Ohel, the tomb of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Chabad Lubavitcher.
Wearing a kippah and flanked by leaders of the Hasidic community, Milei, who is Catholic, somberly toured the Rebbe’s final resting place, where he shared a hug with other members of his group.
Milei, who openly criticized Pope Francis and reflected on converting to Judaism, took advantage of the graveside visit to thank God for his electoral victory, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.
The eccentric Argentine leader then heads to Washington, DC, to meet with Biden administration officials about the South American country’s economic problems.
Javier Milei, the newly elected president of Argentina and a long-time admirer of Israel, visited the revered tomb of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Queens on Monday. Stephen Yang
The tomb of the Rebbe, who died in 1994, is visited each year by hundreds of thousands of people of all religions. The Ohel is located at Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights.
Milei had previously visited the site in September when he met with top Hasidic leaders in Brooklyn and Queens, and even shared his reverence for the Rebbe in an undated campaign video.
Milei paid his respects at the Rebbe’s tomb, flanked by leaders of the Hasidic Jewish community. Stephen Yang Milei sought to foster close ties with New York’s Hasidic community even before his October 22 election victory. Stephen Yang
“There is a book that contains the Rebbe’s teachings. Normally they give you that book,” Milei said in the television clip that aired during her presidential campaign. “I had the opportunity, the honor, to meet one of those rabbis who wrote those teachings and I had the privilege of having him give me that book and sign it.”
Milei won his election with 55.7% of the vote, the highest margin of any candidate since Argentina was reestablished as a democracy in 1983.
He is scheduled to take office on December 10.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn