Menachem Begin during his famous visit to the Rebbe, summer 1977

Menachem Begin during his famous visit to the Rebbe, summer 1977

A painting depicting the famous scene of the Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Beginmeeting visiting the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 770. Summer 1977. Pencil on paper. Signed SAS.

As part of Begin's trip to the United States for a meeting with US President Jimmy Carter in the summer of 1977, Begin saw fit to enter the Rebbe and talk to him and receive his blessing on a mission. To the surprise of his supporters, Begin's visit to the Rebbe was his first destination on that trip. Begin later explained: "Rabbi Schneerson is one of the greatest of the generation. In Israel, not only do we know him, but we listen to his advice. Before I left for Washington to talks with the President of the United States, I felt compelled to consult him and receive his blessing". At 10 a.m. the prime minister's convoy arrived when Begin got out of a black limousine. The crowd of over 4,000 people, most of them Chabad followers, greeted the prime minister with cheers and Begin responded with a wave of his hand. As the prime minister's car approached the entrance of the building, the Rebbe approached - as a rare gesture - and met Begin at the entrance steps. The Lubavitcher Rebbe used to do so once and for all - when the late President Shazar visited his court. Begin met with the Rebbe in private for two and a quarter hours, when the meeting between the two was a resounding media event. When asked about the program of the meeting, Begin replied, "Things said in private do not tell in public." But he stressed that "the meeting strengthens my position ahead of the talks with US President Jimmy Carter." Upon his departure, the Rebbe complied with Prime Minister Menachem Begin's request - He stood in front of the television cameras of the three major networks in the United States, and bless his guest: "I bless him more than one hundred percent and wish him complete success, for the Jewish people, for the Land of Israel, who will succeed to bring the complete redemption by our righteous Messiah soon." And Wished him a success in the meeting with President Jimmy Carter. Begin got into his car while the Lubavitcher Rebbe waited on the steps until the last of the convoy cars disappeared across the street. (The Details of the incident were given at the time by Shlomo Nakdimon who accompanied Begin at that meeting).

The painting before us was made according to a famous press photo from that meeting.

Size: 32x23 cm. Wooden and glass frame: 45x37 cm. Stains. Good condition.