Partisan fighting, political gridlock, and a congressional popularity rating of only 9% have become the norm in Washington. But in a rare show of bi-partisanship, Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer took the stage together at a benefit event honoring American Friends of Lubavitch.

A virtual “who’s who” of the DC Jewish scene, the annual banquet has drawn the wider interest of politicians, lobbyists and philanthropists alike. Even beverage conglomerate Coca-Cola took part by sponsoring the evening.

Among those honored were ProFunds mutual funds president, Louis and wife Manette Mayberg. The couple was honored for their philanthropic work in DC and the greater Jewish communities. The Leadership Award, introduced by Whip Hoyer and bestowed on Speaker Boehner was perhaps the highlight of the evening.

The rapport between the two congressmen and their willingness to come together for a common cause was not lost on guests. Noah Pollak, Executive Director for the Emergency Committee for Israel,posted on Twitter, that there was “a real love-in going on between Steny Hoyer and John Boehner” at the dinner, noting that it was a “nice moment.”

Addressing the crowd, Speaker Boehner affirmed his continued support of Israel.

“We do not support Israel for the Jewish people,” Speaker Boehner noted. “Rather [we support it] for all people in the world who seek peace and freedom."

Also honored at the event was Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, former US Ambassador to the European Union and member of the Board of Advisers of the Global Panel Foundation. Eizenstat recalled that while serving as White House Domestic Policy Advisor to President Carter, he helped Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, put up a large menorah across from the White House back in 1979. President Carter, then occupied with the ongoing Iran Hostage Crisis, made his first public appearance since the start of crisis at the public lighting of the menorah.

According to Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch in Washington, DC and chair of the benefit, beyond the bi-partisan participation on the banquet dais, the “diverse range of backgrounds and beliefs” of banquet attendees was “a testament to Chabad’s work in America.”