Rabbi Mendy Carlebach recently got a request from the team of Mossad Director David Barnea: He was in the U.S. for talks with government officials and wanted to visit the Rebbe’s grave.
“We kept it a secret for obvious reasons, but I organized for us to have a private room,” said Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, who is both a chaplain for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and administrator of Rutgers Chabad. “It was the first time he was ever there and it was very emotional for him.”
The group at the Ohel also included members of Barnea’s team and Rabbi Mendy Carlebach’s father, Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, the director of Rutgers Chabad and a New Jersey State Police chaplain.
“The Israeli Consulate normally calls me if they are bringing Israeli officials over because of my relationship with the Port Authority and its airports,” explained Rabbi Mendy Carlebach. “They call me if there is anything to do with Lubavitch, and I also have a longstanding relationship with the security organizations of the Israeli Consulate in New York.”
Rabbi Mendy Carlebach was interviewed by phone as he sat waiting in the Jerusalem offices of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, where he and a group of foreign journalists had been invited by the foreign ministry to meet with the president.
He said it was obvious Barnea had been moved by his visit to the Ohel and recited both personal prayers, including his chapter of Psalms, as well as prayers for the hostages.
“He took quite some time there writing up some notes,” said Rabbi Mendy Carlebach. “He definitely mentioned it was very special to him.”
