For only the second time, Governors and State Leaders issued Proclamations and support for Education and Sharing Day, USA. Especially significant this year was that this was achieved notwithstanding the unique challenges of covid-19 restrictions still in effect in most of the country.
Many governors had not yet reopened their offices, and most staff were still working remotely.
Nevertheless, leadership in all 50 states found the time and a way to appropriately mark this special effort, established in 1978 as part of the call by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, to establish a “Year of Education”. President Jimmy Carter recognized and appreciated that effort, as well as the Rebbe’s strong support for the establishment of a separate US Department of Education. Every year since then, the President of the United States has issued a special Proclamation establishing the Rebbe’s birthday as Education and Sharing Day, USA.
The program was developed and coordinated through the office of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) in Washington, DC.
In addition to every state, well over 100 municipalities and counties, from Maine to Hawaii, also issued similar proclamations and presented various programs focusing on Education and Sharing Day. Many of these included personal participation (virtually and in person, complying with whatever regulations were in place in that jurisdiction) as the message of the central importance of education espoused by the Rebbe was embraced across the range of public officials of all levels, a good number of whom shared the message on their social media.
Cities like Binghamton, NY, held special sessions on Education and Sharing Day, while state legislatures in Alaska, Arkansas and Florida gave opportunities to Shluchim there to present unique perspectives on the matter. In fact, one Representative in the Texas legislature took the initiative and placed a card explaining Education and Sharing Day as well as the matter of Act of Random Kindness, along with a special “ARK” pushka, at every legislator’s desk (this legislator was not Jewish).
The coming months will bring significant deliberations on how to further the impact of this important initiative, bringing this message to even more people across the US and internationally.
