Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to the United States was marked by a series of high-profile appearances — from a dramatic address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York to an unplanned yet historic announcement at the White House alongside former President Donald Trump.
The visit reflected both political urgency and personal faith, with the Prime Minister and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, observing Shabbat in Manhattan and connecting with the Jewish community before traveling to Washington, D. C. to unveil a major new diplomatic initiative.
Among those in attendance at the UNGA to hear the Prime Minister’s address was Chagit Leviev Sofiev, President of the Bukharian Jewish Congress of the U. S. and Canada. She was invited as a guest of the Israeli delegation and described the speech as both powerful and deeply symbolic.
“It was a very impactful speech,” said Leviev Sofiev. “On purpose, many nations came in just to walk out — to make a show that he’s speaking to an empty audience. They do that every year, on repeat. It doesn’t matter. We had a very strong representation and a big support group. It was a great speech, as always.”
Netanyahu’s remarks struck a defiant tone amid international scrutiny, reaffirming Israel’s determination to dismantle Hamas and resist calls for unilateral concessions. He also rebuked recent recognitions of a Palestinian state, calling them “a reward for terror.”
Shabbat in Manhattan
Leviev Sofiev was also among a select group of guests invited to a private Shabbat dinner with the Prime Minister and First Lady at Reserve Cut, an upscale kosher steakhouse in Manhattan.
“It was a small, intimate dinner — just a few people,” she recalled. “Obviously, no pictures from there. But it was very special.”
Sunday Plans Shift as Urgent Meeting Called
The following day, Netanyahu had been scheduled to serve as keynote speaker at a Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) event, which Leviev Sofiev and other community leaders attended. But the Prime Minister canceled his appearance to travel urgently to Washington, D. C. for high-level discussions with Trump, culminating in the announcement of a 20-Point Gaza Plan — a proposed roadmap for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, demilitarization, and governance.
The plan, which Hamas has yet to accept, has generated cautious optimism among Israeli and American observers.
Netanyahu had also been slated to visit the Ohel — the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens — but the trip was dropped from his schedule due to the developing negotiations. His wife, Sara Netanyahu, kept the appointment.
“That was very, very special,” said Leviev Sofiev. “It was her second time going — last year we also took her. It was spiritual and meaningful. And obviously, her prayers were answered, because we got a big deal after all.”
ZOA Meeting: “Keeping Israel Whole”
Later that evening, Netanyahu and the First Lady met privately with leaders from the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), including members of the Russian-Jewish and Bukharian communities.
Leviev Sofiev, who serves as a ZOA representative to the World Zionist Congress, attended the meeting, describing it as “very positive and strong.”
“We spoke about how important it is to stick to what we believe in — keeping Israel whole, not giving anything away, and standing by the values that the ZOA represents,” she said. “Bibi was very strong about that.”
The discussion also touched on upcoming World Likud elections, as Netanyahu reaffirmed his support for Minister Miki Zohar as party chair, emphasizing the importance of unity within global Likud ranks.
Participants included Yuriy Danielov, a fellow ZOA member and Bukharian community leader; the Mayor of Great Neck; Barbara Weinfeld, a Holocaust Museum trustee; and Morton Klein, ZOA’s longtime president.
A Message of Strength and Faith
Throughout the visit, Leviev Sofiev said, the Prime Minister’s message was one of unity and resolve — a call to hold firm to Israel’s principles even amid international pressure.
“We spoke about how important it is to stick to what we believe in,” she emphasized. “Bibi was very strong about that.”
She added that the visit carried a spiritual dimension as well — from the First Lady’s heartfelt prayers at the Ohel to the community’s steadfast support.
“It was very, very special,” she reflected. “Obviously, her prayers were answered, because we got a good deal after all.”
