The Dalai Lama visits a D.C. sukkah
By <A href="mailto:judiej@jewishledger.com">Judie Jacobson</A>

President Obama's refusal to meet with the Dalai Lama during the Tibetan leader's five-day visit to the nation's capital last week didn't seem to deter Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, spiritual leader of Adas Israel Synagogue in Washington, D.C. Instead, the rabbi warmly welcomed the Dalai Lama to the congregation's sukkah when the Buddhist spiritual leader visited the shul on the last day of his trip. The visit coincided with Shemini Atzeret, the last day of the festival of Sukkot. Adas Israel served as the venue of his audience to the Tibetan community. 

Upon his arrival at the synagogue, the Dalai Lama was greeted by Steinlauf who ushered him into the sukkah where many congregants had gathered to greet the Dalai Lama in song. In a brief address, the Dalai Lama expressed his admiration of the Jewish people and noted that the Tibetans had "a lot to learn from the Jews" about the secret to maintaining one's own identity despite years of exile.
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