Rabbi Levi Shemtov, founder and spiritual leader of TheSHUL of the Nation’s Capital who is popularly known as “the rabbi of Capitol HIll,” answers “What does it mean to be Jewish?” in our latest #0dot2 video.

TheSHUL offers a unique place for Jewish life, regardless of formal affiliation, children’s programs, Torah study programs and celebrations of Shabbat and Jewish holidays.

Rabbi Shemtov is also the Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) and serves the daily governmental and diplomatic needs of the international Chabad-Lubavitch movement, the world’s largest and fastest growing Jewish network of educational and social service institutions, with more than 3,500 centers in 49 states and more than 80 countries. He maintains close relationships with numerous members of the United States Congress, senior administration officials and leaders in the international community, including a number of heads of state and government. Rabbi Shemtov chairs the organizing committee of the International Chabad-Lubavitch Conference – Living Legacy, which facilitates high-level interaction between rabbis and communal leadership from around the globe and prominent U.S. and international figures in the arenas of government, diplomacy, academia and the arts.

Additionally, Rabbi Shemtov founded and directs the Capitol Jewish Forum, which is the largest (apolitical) Jewish group on Capitol Hill, designed to “create and enhance a sense of identity and community among Jewish Congressional staffers and members of Congress” and which enjoys strong support of the Leadership and members of both parties in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

B’nai B’rith International has launched the Zero.Dot.Two Initiative (#0dot2) ahead of its 175th anniversary to discuss ideas around Jewish identity, to educate social media users about Judaism as a proactive way to combat anti-Semitism and to promote the Jewish connection to the State of Israel through the voices of many online influencers.  With approximately 14.4 million Jewish individuals alive today, we represent approximately 0.2% of global citizens.

To learn more about this project and hear voices from other Jewish influencers, please visit: http://bit.ly/2pZ3qov