frontlines

The President
And The General

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Contributing Writer

C

haya Goldstein didn't join a
youth club for accolades, but
the one she earned anyway was
a doozy. The 11-year-old from Ann Arbor
was chosen to represent the group at a
meeting with President Barack Obama
in the Oval Office of the White House on
April 27.
Chaya became involved with Chabad-
Lubavitch's Jewish Children's Corps to
do good things for others, not to receive
them herself.
"She is part of the international group
for children younger than bar or bat
mitzvah age Tzivos Hashem, created
by the Rebbe [the late Chabad Rabbi
Menachem Mendel Schneerson] in 1981
for doing all types of mitzvot and corn-
munity service," said her dad, Rabbi Alter
Goldstein.
Doing good deeds moves members
of the corps up in rank, with Chaya, a
student at the Lubavitch Cheder-Oholei
Yosef Yitzchak in Oak Park, attaining the
highest level of "general."
Representing the girls who reached
that position, Chaya joined a nine-
member delegation that included Chabad
emissaries and educators from around
the country. They met with the president
to commemorate the annual Education
and Sharing Day USA, established by
Congress in 1978 to honor the Rebbe's

work and to recognize his
contributions in education
and morality, ethics and
A Chabad delegation, including Menachem Mendel
justice.
Benjaminson, Chave Hecht and Chaya Goldstein,
Menachem Mendel
all on the right, meet with President Obama to
Benjaminson, 11, of
commemorate Education and Sharing Day.
Morristown, N.J., was the
male representative from the youth
I found out that my great-grandma will
group.
be coming with me:'
During the meeting, President Obama
During the meeting, the president also
presented a ceremonial copy of the proc-
discussed the responsibility for education
lamation that marked the day, issued on
and the obligation to combat rising anti-
March 31, corresponding to the Hebrew
Semitism, and the delegation shared with
birthdate of the Rebbe. This year's proc-
him the Rebbe's view on seeing the situa-
lamation noted the Rebbe's emphasis on
tion in Israel in the context of history.
educating women and girls.
They also recited the blessing typically
Among the delegates was a Chabad
made upon meeting a head of state and
woman who taught and mentored girls
presented Obama with a silver menorah,
and women for more than 70 years.
symbolic of light in the face of darkness.
"It was not planned that that woman
Goldstein said his daughter's experi-
happened to be Chaya's great-grand-
ence at the White House was "very mov-
mother, Rebbetzin Chave Hecht from
ing" and she was honored to be included
Brooklyn, N.Y.," Alter Goldstein said. "She for her involvement in the youth club.
was chosen as a leader in the women's
"I worked hard on learning extra
league of teachers:'
things and doing community service and
Chaya's mom, Chanchi Goldstein, who
a lot of mitzvot," Chaya said. As a general
is Hecht's granddaughter, accompanied
of Tzivos Hashem, I feel so proud I was
her daughter on the trip. The Goldsteins
chosen to have this amazing experience'
direct the University of Michigan Chabad
She was pleased to hear the president
House. Chaya's grandparents, Rabbi
address both her and Menachem Mendel
Aharon and Esther Goldstein, are also
as "general"
Chabad leaders in Ann Arbor.
"He told them he appreciated how they
"I was so excited and happy to meet
achieved their rank:' her dad said.
the president:' said Chaya, who didn't
"And when the president learned
know Hecht would be there until the day
Chaya was from Ann Arbor, she got a
before her trip. "I was less nervous when
thumbs-up:"

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