A section of President Street in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood will be renamed “Lubavitcher Rebbe Way” in honor of the influential leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The New York City Council approved the measure late Thursday.
The street renaming applies to the segment of President Street between Brooklyn and New York Avenues, home to 1304 President Street, the former residence of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. The house, now a historical site, occasionally opens for tours.
New York City City councilmember Crystal Hudson introduces initiative to rename section of President Street in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood to 'Lubavitcher Rebbe Way'
Councilmember Crystal Hudson, who introduced the legislation, praised the Rebbe as "one of the most transformative figures in modern Jewish history" and highlighted his contributions to global Jewish life.
"After escaping the Holocaust and arriving in the United States in 1941, the Rebbe’s leadership expanded Chabad-Lubavitch’s global reach, establishing countless institutions: kindergartens, schools, drug rehabilitation centers, care homes and synagogues,” Hudson said. “His ability to meet people where they were—engaging them with warmth and heartfelt communication regardless of their background or status—set him apart."
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Hudson, who represents Brooklyn’s 35th District, shared a personal story about the Rebbe’s influence, despite never meeting him. She recounted the Rebbe’s interaction with Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968.
Initially assigned to the Agriculture Committee in what was perceived as a marginal role, Chisholm expressed frustration. The Rebbe encouraged her to see the position as an opportunity to address America’s food surplus and hunger crisis. Inspired by their conversation, Chisholm championed legislation that ultimately created the federal food stamp program, feeding millions of Americans to this day.
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The house on President Street in which the Lubavitcher Rebbe resided
(Photo: Ziv Rheinstein)
“It is stories like this that remind us of the Rebbe’s profound ability to inspire action, build bridges and help others see the potential for good in every challenge," Hudson said during the council session. She emphasized her pride in representing a district that includes the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and now honors the Rebbe’s legacy.
Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, the Crown Heights activist who has been working with Hudson on the naming, was invited to present the invocation at the council meeting. Quoting the Rebbe, he said, “We are one people, living in one city, under one administration, and under one God.”