Press Releases

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today announced 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, dating back to the First Continental Congress in 1774, has opened up 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. He attended the Rabbinical College of Canada and earned his Rabbinic ordination from the Central Rabbinic Court of Chabad of Israel in 2006. His work has taken him across the globe, providing programming in the United States and communities across Europe. He returned to Binghamton in 2008 to join the team at the Chabad Center - established by his parents Rabbi Aaron and Rivkah Slonim in 1985 - serving the large demographic of Jewish students at Binghamton University and the local Broome County community as Director of Development.

Rep. Molinaro said, "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 said, “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.”