Posted on 04/27/25
Jerusalem, Israel - April 27, 2025 - As part of his US tour, Minister Ben Gvir completed a 2-day visit to the Five Towns area, visiting the police headquarters, and spending Shabbat and in local synagogues with community members and leaders. He was received with an overwhelming amount of enthusiasm and support from a broad range of synagogues throughout the Five Towns.
Friday
Ohel Chabad Lubavitch
Friday morning began with a spiritual pilgrimage to Ohel Chabad Lubavitch, the resting place of the late Rabbis who led the Chabad Jewish religious movement, joined by Rabbi Danny Cohen of Hebron's Chabad community. The visit emphasized the Minister’s commitment to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s teachings about “shleimut haaretz” the unity and wholeness of the Land of Israel.
Nassau County Police Tour
The delegation next visited Nassau County Police headquarters. The meeting included a tour of operations, helicopters and the Nassau County Police Museum. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman hosted and personally accompanied the delegation and provided a police escort throughout Shabbat to ensure the safety of the minister and his entourage.
Before the onset of Shabbat, the Minister was welcomed to a meet-and-greet with many local fans and supporters. He was then welcomed to a packed synagogue for Friday night services at Yismach Moshe. Rabbi Heshy Blumstein welcomed the Minister, addressing internal community debates, reminding worshipers of the importance of listening to messages that reinforce strength and vigilance in the face of regional threats. The Minister spoke before a packed and receptive audience about how Israel has become more secure because of his policies, about releasing more civilian arms permits, about making Israeli jails a true prison experience for Israeli terrorists, and about Jewish rights on the Temple Mount. This was followed by Friday night prayers, which were filled with enthusiastic singing and dancing.
Shabbat
Minister Ben Gvir spent Shabbat day visiting several Five Towns synagogues that were packed with hundreds of supporters eager to meet with and hear him speak. Each synagogue had crowds, with people also stopping the delegation on the streets.
Minister Ben Gvir commenced Shabbat morning with the Irving Place Minyan led by Rabbi Binyamin Slovater. He then visited Congregation Beth Sholom, one of the oldest and most prestigious synagogues in the Five Towns. Welcomed by Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich at Beth Sholom, Minister Ben Gvir received multiple standing ovations. At Bais Tefilah with Rabbi Ephraim Polakoff, the minister engaged with a packed hall for a question-and-answer session. The minister closed Shabbat day with a speech at Kehillas Ahavas Yisrael, led by Rabbi Moshe Plutchok.
The Minister spoke at each of the several congregations on pressing topics, including hostage rescue, Israel’s internal security challenges, and the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox communities into the military. In each location, there were standing ovations and a thirst for more, and in each synagogue, the Rabbis emphasized the critical need to give the Minister a platform to express his views to American Jewry.
Shabbat in Five Towns reaffirmed solid community backing for the Minister's security-focused agenda, for a strong Israel, a strong IDF, and the defeat of Hamas.
Motzaei Shabbat
Shabbat ended with a celebratory Havdalah (marking the end of the Sabbath) at the beautiful home of Avishai Newman, where Minister Ben Gvir addressed a group of young people at a Malava Malka celebration. The Jewish youth who came showed enthusiastic and unequivocal support for the Security Minister.
He also met Saturday night with Republican Jewish Coalition board member Attorney Eliot Lauer, known for his pro bono representation of the former American intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard, among other accomplishments. A reception at the home of Ben Landau and a supporter and friend, who invited members of his community to meet the Minister and show their enthusiastic support.
Community Response and Controversies
No protests were reported during the events. The cancellation of a synagogue appearance due to the passing of a Rabbi’s father sparked discussion within the local community; however, the cancellation generated increased interest, with many community members attending other events to hear the Minister speak directly.
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