Newly elected U.S. Representative Ron Barber was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the House in Washington, DC, to complete the term of Gabby Giffords.
And there was a rabbi on-hand.
Barber's office has given a guest pass to Tucson Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin who was in town for the Living Legacy international conference honoring the life and work of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory.
Congressman Barber later met Rabbi Ceitlin at a reception held in his office in the Longworth House Office Building for family, friends and colleagues.
Ron and Nancy Barber have warmly received Rabbi Ceitlin, the Director of Development of Chabad of Tucson and Associate Rabbi of Congregation Young Israel, and thanked him for joining them and offering his blessings and well wishes.
Rabbi Ceitlin noted that there is a greater expectation of an elected official than a civil servant, referring to Barber's previous role as district director to Giffords, during which he was shot twice in the January 2011 shootings.
"You are on the top of the mountain," the rabbi said, quoting a saying he once heard from a colleague.
"Until now you were working on one side of the mountain, seeing and dealing with a parcial picture. Today, once elected, you are standing on top and able to see the broader picture and responsibility."
Rabbi Ceitlin told the Congressman about the 5 Chabad rabbi and rebbetzin couples operating in Southern Arizona and the idea of the Chabad Family Village, a stimulating and interactive home away from home for children with special needs.
Rep. Barber, who served for for over 30 years at the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities, was excited to hear about the new project and offered his support "as this topic is dear to my heart."
Barber has worked to get people with disabilities out of government-run institutions and back into their community where they could become employed and live full lives with their families and friends.
Chabad will be pairing volunteers with special needs children and building a LifeTown mini village where special children experience real-life activities and improve their development and communication skills.