This week, the Living Legacy Conference was held in Washington, D.C., bringing together hundreds of Chabad Shluchim, supporters, public officials, and distinguished guests from across the United States and dozens of countries around the world.

Organized by the American Friends of Lubavitch–Chabad, the conference was dedicated to the legacy and vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and to examining the impact of his teachings on Jewish and public life in America and beyond.

The event highlighted the work of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which today maintains an active presence in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 110 countries worldwide. It also served as a platform for meaningful engagement between community leaders, Chabad emissaries, and prominent figures from the political, business, academic, and nonprofit sectors.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch-Chabad, said, “We hold conferences like this every few years to reflect on the Rebbe’s leadership, his legacy, and the impact of his teachings on American life.”

The three-day conference opened with an elaborate breakfast on Capitol Hill with the participation of dozens of members of Congress and senators from both parties. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum—including Democrats and Republicans from both the House of Representatives and the Senate—addressed the gathering.

Participants then continued to the Library of Congress, where the Hebraic Section showcased rare and valuable Jewish manuscripts, such as the Washington Haggadah and Chabad related publications from its collections.

Special presentations prepared by the Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) explored the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the role of the Jewish community in American history, and the Rebbe’s connection to these historic developments. Dr. Naftali Loewenthal, Assistant Professor at the University of London and the Head of the UK Chabad Research Unit delivered a paper on Ten Points of Leadership in the Rebbe’s Teachings.

The conference then moved to the U.S. Department of State’s ornate Benjamin Franklin Room, on of the capital’s most magnificent venues, where senior diplomats participated in the Global Jewish Roundtable. Among the speakers was Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter.

“It is not easy to inspire a room full of rabbis, but he succeeded, and everyone was talking about his remarks afterward,” Shemtov said.

Letters were then inscribed into the Washington Torah to remember the occasion. A panel followed featuring the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States and the Australian Ambassador to the United States, focusing on the challenges facing Jewish communities in their respective regions. Another panel brought together Chabad representatives from the Gulf States, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, who shared firsthand perspectives on the issues and concerns confronting Jewish communities around the world.

In the evening, participants attended a gala banquet at the Organization of American States that included a tribute to members of the United States military and Jewish servicemen and women. A number of Generals, Admirals, and senior civilian and military representatives from the U.S. defense establishment were in attendance, as were the parents of the last US Citizen returned from Gaza, Edan Alexander, Adi and Yael Alexander, who delivered moving remarks about their visit to the Ohel of The Rebbe, centered on faith, hope, and prayer.

The keynote address was delivered by Hon. Justice Marcus Solomon of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, who also serves as a rabbi. His presentation focused on the Rebbe’s approach to combating antisemitism and addressing some of the most pressing social and moral challenges of our time. The evening concluded with a special concert featuring melodies taught and shared by the Rebbe, alongside original symphonic Chabad niggunim performed by a 25 piece orchestra, especially commissioned for this occasion. Music arranged and conducted by Avremi G, performed by the ‘A Team’.

On the conference’s final day, a large delegation visited the White House, where participants met with senior presidential advisers and engaged in discussions on a range of Jewish issues. A smaller group later met with Vice President of the United States JD Vance for what participants described as a “substantive and meaningful” exchange of views.

Asked why such a conference is especially important at this moment, Rabbi Shemtov said that the Jewish people are facing unprecedented challenges and that studying the Rebbe’s teachings provides practical guidance for addressing them effectively.

“I believe one of our core missions is to bring people together—people with different levels of religious observance and different political perspectives,” he said. “The Rebbe’s message was that we can remain firmly committed to our values and identity while also listening to others, understanding them, and working toward unity and mutual respect.”

According to Rabbi Shemtov, at a time when Jewish communities around the world are confronting growing challenges, strengthening a shared sense of purpose and responsibility is more important than ever.

“Throughout history, Jews have been expelled from 109 countries,” he concluded. “Today, Chabad operates in 112 countries around the world. We are here to stay. We are here to continue our work and to bring more light wherever we go until our mission is done.”