Accompanied by representatives of the Chabad movement, the president and his wife lit candles and prayed for the well-being of the people of Israel. A statement from the President’s Office said, “The president and his wife prayed and lit candles for the safe return of the hostages held captive by the terrorists in Gaza, for the success and safety of the IDF soldiers and security forces, for the recovery of the wounded—both physically and emotionally—and for the memory of those who were killed.”
President at the Rebbe’s Gravesite in Queens; Photo: Roy Avraham, Recording: Nir Sherf, GPO
A Prayer for the Future and Memories from the Past
During the visit, President Herzog reflected on inspiring moments from his youth. In 1977, as a 15-year-old, he attended Simchat Torah at the Rebbe’s synagogue with his father, Chaim Herzog, who was then Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. In an unforgettable moment, the Rebbe handed Chaim Herzog the Torah scroll for the ceremonial dance, followed by a personal meeting between the two.
At the conclusion of the prayer, President Herzog said: “I want to strengthen Chabad emissaries worldwide who operate with love for the people of Israel, the Torah of Israel, and the Land of Israel.”
A Personal Note and a Collective Prayer
Following the tradition of the site, Herzog wrote a personal prayer note on the Rebbe’s grave, as other leaders—including Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei—have done in the past year.
In his note, Herzog wrote: “For the swift and complete return of all the hostages. For the victory and security of IDF soldiers and all security forces wherever they may be. For the healing of all the wounded, both physically and emotionally. For the return of evacuees to their homes. Amen.”
