[PHOTO LINK IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
It is quite possible that more viewers are familiar with the photo of ‘Gil’ than Congressman Engel (17th District), but nonetheless, he is the feature of this story.
While visiting the Kosel the congressman did agree to put on tefillin and he also heard the sounding of the shofar at that location.
Putting tefillin on the US elected official is Old City resident Gutman Locks, known internationally as ‘Gil’, who for the past 2.5 decades devotes hours daily to putting tefillin on visitors and spreading Hashem’s word at the holy site.
YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos by Shturem.net.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
Your right, I recognized Gil immediately. What an amazing story he has. He tried every religion before finding a home in where he looked last. He wrote an amazing book (not for young readers) called “Coming Back to Earth”.
I never met him there but I look forward to doing so. Finally an article about a politician that I think is worth reading.
Go Congressman Engel!!!
Mazal Tov!
Gutman Locks makes amazing Japanese Matzo Ball soup! Friday Night Seudah by him is amazing!
Does every congressman get such security? Four body guards are seen on the pictures.
To No. 5
At least 2 of those young men in the picture are staffers of the Congressmen and NOT security officers.
It’s great to see Congressman Engel put on tefillin. If he wants to really help his country he should quit being a liberal Democrat and move over to the Right.
Hust zich dermant oz di bist o yid?
Yes, Congressman Engel is Jewish. He also understands Yiddish, and can speak it slightly. He is also the most pro-Israel Congressman in the house.
From Wikipedia:
Engel has been a vocal supporter of Israel. In 2008, he was the lead Democrat on a resolution condemning Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations.[28] Shortly after entering Congress, he sponsored a resolution declaring Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel.[29] He also wrote the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 12, 2003.[30] This law authorized restrictions on American relations with Syria and penalties for its occupation of Lebanon and for its relationship with terrorist groups.