In a televised speech today about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush singled out Lubavitch's emissary at Tulane University for his efforts on behalf of the victims. The President delivered his speech at the occasion of the Republican Jewish Coalition's 20th anniversary and was preceded by an invocation delivered by Rabbi Levi Shemtov, director of the Washington Office of American Friends of Lubavitch.


Transcript of the
President's citation:

"At Tulane University, the Director of the Chabad, Rabbi Rivkin, brought teams of students to New Orleans, and southern Mississippi, and other communities hit by the storm. He called in folks to help. He didn't say, head away from the storm; he said, let's take it right to the middle of the storm area to help people. They helped rescue stranded people; they distributed bottled water and self-heating kosher meals; they cleaned up and helped salvage homes; they provided spiritual support for those who lost loved ones. And one of those rescued from New Orleans put it this way: In the days after Katrina hit, Chabad saved lives.'"