Chabad communities worldwide are marking 31 years since the passing of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to his gravesite—known as "the Ohel"—in Queens, New York. This year, the anniversary falls on a Sunday (corresponding to the Hebrew date 3 Tammuz), a day off in the U.S., further boosting attendance, which is expected to exceed 200,000.
Daily visitor numbers to the site have doubled since U.S. President Donald Trump made a surprise visit there on the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre. Local police have significantly increased security around the site to accommodate the surge in attendance.
To avoid wait times that in past years reached over four hours during peak hours, security personnel are implementing a continuous flow system, allowing for swift movement through the site without standing in place.
In a special letter released Sunday morning, Trump praised the Rebbe’s legacy and recalled his own visit to the Ohel.
“When I visited the Ohel on the anniversary of the terrible attacks of October 7, I drew strength and inspiration from the Rebbe’s legacy. When Edan Alexander was returned to his loving parents earlier this year, after an unimaginable ordeal in the hands of Hamas, the entire country felt the power of the Ohel and the Rebbe’s enduring example,” Trump wrote.
“Through great strength, unflinching resolve, and much prayer, I am committed to restoring peace throughout the world––not least in the Middle East, as we witnessed over the past week––and to stamping out antisemitic hate wherever it rears its head. In doing this, we will restore our country to its tradition of greatness and usher in a new Golden Age for the entire world. This, I believe, is the Rebbe’s legacy,” he added.
Though most visitors are Jewish, a growing number of non-Jewish pilgrims from the U.S. and abroad—especially Argentina—have begun visiting the Ohel regularly, often inspired by world leaders who have made similar visits to pray and seek blessings. Notable recent visitors include Argentine President Javier Milei, New York Mayor Eric Adams and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
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Three weeks ago, Milei presented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a painting of his 1990s visit to the Rebbe—a gesture highlighting the Rebbe’s growing international recognition.
In addition to the crowds at the Ohel, Chabad emissaries across the globe are organizing events in the Rebbe’s memory. In Israel, Chabad youth and more than 1,400 local emissaries are holding gatherings nationwide, drawing public figures and diverse audiences to honor the legacy of a rabbi who continues to shape Jewish life worldwide through more than 6,000 envoys.