Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar visited the Ohel, the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in Queens, New York, ahead of his first official visit as minister to Washington.
During the visit, Sa'ar met with Chabad officials, recited Psalms, and prayed for the success of his trip to the US capital, as well as for the return of the hostages.
Sa'ar praised Chabad, the world's largest Jewish organization, for its cooperation with the Foreign Ministry in supporting Jewish communities worldwide, as well as the status of the many Chabad emissaries stationed in 111 different countries.
The minister, who recently visited the Chabad emissaries in Zambia, praised the work of the emissaries around the world.
"The most important thing is to strengthen Jewish education," Sa'ar said. "This is the most critical key to preserving the Jewish people."
Visiting the Lubavitcher Rebbe's grave
The Ohel is considered a holy site by many Jews, particularly hassidic adherents of Chabad. Approximately 50,000 people - both Jews and non-Jews - visit the grave every year in honor of the anniversary of Schneerson's death, with nearly a million people visiting each year.
Several political figures have also visited the grave, including US President Donald Trump in October 2024. Two other notable world leaders, President Javier Milei of Argentina and Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania, have both visited the Ohel.