Rockland County was prominently represented at Thursday’s historic White House gathering, as leading Rabbonim, Admorim, elected officials and community activists met with President Donald Trump and senior administration officials ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

Among the central participants from Rockland County were the Viznitzer Rebbe of Monsey and HaRav Aron Mendel Twersky, eldest son of the Skverer Rebbe, who represented his father at the gathering. The broader rabbinic delegation included both Satmar Rebbes, the Bobover Rebbe and HaGaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.

But the Rockland connection extended well beyond the Rabbonim.

Monsey Scoop has learned that longtime community activist Yossi Gestetner played a central role in bringing the historic gathering together, working together with White House Jewish liaison Martin Marks to coordinate the Rabbonim and Admorim with the White House. Gestetner was on hand throughout Thursday’s gathering and played a leading role during the visit.

Marks, whose official White House title is Special Assistant to the President for Jewish Outreach, had been working for months on arrangements for the meeting. The gathering was designed to give some of the largest Chassidishe and Torah communities in the United States direct access to the president and senior administration officials ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

Gestetner also addressed reporters following the meeting, describing the visit as a rare opportunity for the president to meet face-to-face with leaders representing some of the country’s largest Chassidishe communities.

A sizable group of additional Rockland County officials and community figures made the trip to Washington.

New Square Mayor Izzy Spitzer accompanied HaRav Aron Mendel Twersky, with the two departing earlier Thursday aboard a private jet from Teterboro Airport.

Airmont Trustee Yehuda Zorger attended together with his Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel, while Kaser Mayor Eli Pinkasowitz was also part of the Rockland County contingent.

Congressman Mike Lawler, whose district includes much of Rockland County, participated in the White House gathering as well, together with his Deputy Chief of Staff Rafi Silberberg. Lawler was present during the historic Oval Office portion of the visit with President Trump.

The visit began with a gathering in the Roosevelt Room, where Marks opened the meeting and White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf addressed those assembled. Vice President JD Vance later joined the group, personally greeting the Rabbonim and participants and discussing the Orthodox community’s emphasis on family and education.

The delegation subsequently proceeded to the Oval Office for its meeting with President Trump. Jared Kushner joined that portion of the gathering, while the president met directly with the senior Rabbonim and heard from members of the delegation on issues affecting frum communities across the country.

Among the issues discussed during the broader White House gathering were religious and educational concerns, the needs of Jewish prisoners, and other matters impacting Orthodox communities.

HaRav Aron Mendel Twersky spoke briefly during the Oval Office meeting and delivered a letter to President Trump on behalf of the Skverer Rebbe. Trump inquired about the Skverer Rebbe’s well-being.

For Rockland County, Thursday’s gathering was particularly notable: from the Viznitzer and Skverer communities to local elected officials, congressional representatives and community activists, the county had an unusually significant presence in a historic meeting at the White House — with individuals from the Monsey area playing roles not only as attendees, but in helping bring the gathering together in the first place.