The Republican presidential candidate visited the grave of the late leader of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.
The ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect attracted international attention earlier this year when it was revealed that it had built secret and illegal tunnel networks in central New York.
Jewish media described Trump’s visit as “thick with ritual and symbolism”, with the presidential candidate arriving at the site with several prominent pro-Israel activists and the family of one of the people still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
The visit to the ultra-Orthodox sect was reportedly not an official campaign stop in Mr Trump’s bid to regain the White House – but is nevertheless seen as an important gesture to America’s Orthodox Jews, who are also expected to support him in the upcoming election.
Mr Trump himself wore a yarmulke during the visit and joined Chabad representatives in a series of traditional Jewish mourning ceremonies, including reading Jewish hymns, lighting memorial candles, placing a note on the grave and a small stone on the headstone.
On this solemn day, President Trump @realDonaldTrump is at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch, praying for America, Israel, the Hostages, and Peace. #October7 #October7th #October7Massacre pic.twitter.com/Lb2Sb6Jg5a
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) October 7, 2024
The presidential candidate also posed for a photo with a poster of an Israeli hostage and declared that the US “gotta get back” American-Israeli Edan Alexander, who is still being held by Hamas and whose family accompanied Trump during the visit.
Orthodox Jews prefer Trump
Rabbi Schneerson’s gravesite has been visited by a long list of pro-Israel figures – not least Trump’s daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, and her husband Jared Kushner, who was Trump’s adviser when he was president.
Trump also took the opportunity to declare that “The atrocities, including the slaughtering and capturing of innocent Israelis and Americans, that took place on Oct. 7th” would never have happened if he were still President and that he is the only one who “can end the bloodshed caused by an emboldened Iranian terrorist regime, which is stronger and richer today from the Harris-Biden Administration’s incompetence and weak policies”.
According to the polls, the vast majority of American Jews will vote for the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, a pattern that has been repeated in previous presidential elections. However, when it comes to Orthodox Jews, a majority say they will vote for Trump.
Secret tunnels in New York
The Chabad movement gained international attention at the beginning of the year when it was revealed that members of the sect had built illegal and secret tunnel networks under parts of central New York.
There are various theories about the actual purpose of the secret tunnel network. A common one is that it involved two rival factions, one of which secretly began digging tunnels to reach a space behind the Chabad headquarters and wanted to expand the synagogue’s space – while the Chabad leadership allegedly opposed this.
#BREAKING: The NYPD discover secret tunnels under a synagogue in NYC.
The tunnel allowed members of Chabad (a Hasidic Jewish sect) to attend the synagogue during lockdown.
Arrests are being made. pic.twitter.com/bNw5aubzGk
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) January 9, 2024
When this was discovered, one faction tried to seal the tunnels with cement, and a riot-like conflict between the two Jewish groups and the police ensued. Footage widely circulated on social media shows Jews crawling out of the secret tunnel systems, trying to escape or being arrested by police.