NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch Visits Lubavitcher Rebbe's Ohel
NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Ohel in Queens ahead of Yom Kippur, joined by community leaders and Devorah Halberstam.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens on Wednesday evening ahead of Yom Kippur. During the visit, Tisch wrote a personal note requesting a blessing, entered the resting place, and offered a prayer.
Tisch hails from one of New York's prominent Jewish families and was active in Chabad during her studies at Harvard University. Her maternal grandfather was the Reform Rabbi Philip Hiat. She has previously emphasized her deep connection to Judaism, stating that her Jewish identity is who she is and always will be.
Memorial Visit and Community Leaders
The commissioner was accompanied by her friend Devorah Halberstam, an NYPD honorary commissioner, Deputy Commissioner for Community Affairs Alden Foster, and Assistant Commissioner for Community Affairs Fred Kreizman. The visit took place on the 6th of Tishrei, the anniversary of the passing of Rebbetzin Channa Schneerson, the Rebbe's mother, lending profound significance to the event.
"It was a very special and meaningful experience to accompany the Police Commissioner to the Ohel," Halberstam said. "The visit was particularly poignant because it took place on the anniversary of the Rebbe's mother's passing."
Historical Context and Security
During the tour, Tisch learned about the historical importance of the Ohel and the thousands of visitors who frequent the site annually. Rabbi Aba Raichman, director of the Chabad-Lubavitch Ohel, thanked the commissioner for the NYPD's ongoing security assistance around the clock.
The visit also touched upon historical tragedies, including the 1994 Brooklyn Bridge shooting in which Halberstam's 16-year-old son Ari was murdered in a terrorist attack targeting Jewish seminary students. Halberstam praised Tisch's leadership and commitment to protecting all New Yorkers, calling her a true guardian of the community.
