Nassau County GOP Chair Visits the Ohel
Nassau County Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo visited the Rebbe’s Ohel with Long Island Shluchim Rabbi Anchelle Perl and Rabbi Shalom Paltiel.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveNassau County Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo recently visited and prayed at the Ohel of the Rebbe in Queens, New York.
He accompanied by attorney Howard Fensterman, and businessman Chris Hine.
He was greeted there by Rabbi Shalom Paltiel, Director of Chabad of Port Washington, and Rabbi Anchelle Perl, Director of Chabad of Mineola.
Before entering, both rabbis explained the significance of such a visit. The Ohel reminds us that whatever position or influence we may possess, ultimately we stand before G-d with the same question: How can I use what I have been given to bring more goodness into the world?
The group wrote personal notes and spent quiet moments in prayer at the Rebbe’s resting place.
Afterward, Cairo asked about the traditional washing of the hands—pouring water alternately over each hand three times.
Rabbi Perl offered a Chassidic insight: the six pourings can represent the six emotional attributes of the human personality—kindness, discipline, compassion, perseverance, humility and connection. Each is powerful, but each needs proper direction.
Water symbolizes wisdom and intellect. The message, Rabbi Perl explained, is that our emotions cannot simply run wherever they wish. The heart must be refined and directed by a thoughtful mind.
It was an appropriate lesson for the entire visit, particularly for anyone entrusted with leadership.
Leadership requires heart, but the heart needs direction. Influence is a gift, but also a responsibility.
Perhaps that is what one carries away from the Ohel: we arrive with our prayers and requests for blessing, but we leave asking what we can do to become a blessing to others.
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