SC New York News

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) announced today that Rabbi Levi Slonim, Co-Director of the Chabad Downtown in Binghamton and Director of Development at the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton University, has accepted his invitation to be the guest chaplain and offer the opening prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

Every legislative session since the First Continental Congress in 1774 has opened with a prayer. A permanent chaplain position was officially established in 1789, but at the request of members of Congress, a local minister may offer the opening prayer.

Rabbi Levi Slonim is a Binghamton native who attended the Rabbinical College of Canada and earned his Rabbinic ordination from the Central Rabbinic Court of Chabad of Israel in 2016. His work has taken him across the globe, providing programming in the United States and communities across Europe. He returned to Binghamton in 2008 where he founded the Chabad Center in Binghamton and has worked with Binghamton University as the Director of Development at the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life.

Rep. Molinaro stated, "Rabbi Slonim's dedication to faith, education, and community service is an inspiration to us all. I am honored to have him in DC to offer the opening prayer on behalf of Binghamton and all of Upstate New York."

Rabbi Slonim commented, “It is a true honor and privilege to have been invited to our nation's capital to offer the opening prayer, as a representative of the 19th District of NY. In these most trying times for our nation, I hope to bring a message of unity and purpose. My sincere appreciation to Congressman Molinaro for this special opportunity.”