By Ron Kampeas – JTA
In the wake of a deadly attack on a Chabad synagogue in California, the movement will press for a mandatory moment of silence in American schools, a measure that it claims will reduce violence.
In a release Sunday, the Washington-based American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) said chapters in all 50 states would advocate for a moment of silence, a measure first proposed by the movement’s leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Video: TV commentators on Fox News praise a “Moment of Silence”
A number of Chabad rabbis have spoken about what they say is the proven effect of a moment of silence in reducing violence, citing government statistics correlating a drop in violence in areas where schools observe the practice.
“A focus in silence for even one minute at the beginning of the school day can have a huge impact on the rest of the day and on the life of a child,” Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch, said in the release. “We have a trove of data proving just that, with virtually no downside.”
Video: Kids explain how a ‘Moment of Silence’ is helpful
Video courtesy of Rabbi Avraham Frank
The renewed effort comes in the wake of an attack last month in Poway, California, a town north of San Diego, when a 19-year-old white supremacist allegedly opened fire, killing one worshipper, Lori Gilbert-Kaye, and wounding three, including the rabbi, Yisroel Goldstein.
Goldstein spoke of the idea at the White House National Day of Prayer last week. “The Rebbe said, ‘We need to go back to the basics and introduce a moment of silence in all public schools’,” Goldstein said to applause, referring to Schneerson, “‘so that children, from early childhood on, could recognize that there’s more good to the world, that they are valuable, that there is accountability, and every human being is created in God’s image.’
“If something good could come out of this terrible, terrible, horrific event, let us bring back a moment of silence to our public school system,” Goldstein said. President Donald Trump called the sentiment “beautiful.”
If you have interest in supporting this effort in any way please email: [email protected]
When MSNBC will support it, then that would really great news.
I think it’s possible that the moment of silence that the rebbe encouraged and the current moment of silence being pushed mainstream might be getting blurred. The Rebbe’s moment of silence was to have the students reflect on the creator of the world. The mainstream associates a moment of silence with remembrance – e.g., in honor of someone who was killed, etc.
That’s not true. If you listen to their discussion you will hear them remark that the uniqueness of this campaign is that it doesn’t specify prayer to one specific deity which is germane to a particular religion. Thus, it is clear that they are on the same page.
…there’s anyway no way of controlling what the child is thinking during that minute anyway. If it’s supposed to be to reflect on G-d, then some children will do that, and others will be thinking of something else; same is true if it’s pitched as a moment of remembrance.
was to get kids to think about other people. ‘He will first learn to think about what is good for others and only then what is good for himself.’ Also, the teachers should have nothing to do with talking about a religion…that should be the parent’s role. And that is another important part…that we need to bring back the role of the parents in their children’s education and not just hand it all to the teachers. ‘instruct them to think about justice and honesty…tell them to think about do not steal and do not lie, to be peaceful, considerate and… Read more »
Kol Hakavod!
Those kids did not get the g-d part. But calming down and organize thoughts is also good.
Especially since so much crime today takes place without thinking, i.e. a person with no self-control sees something, wants it, and simply takes it, or physically assaults someone who is in his way or whatever… the simple act of spending a moment in silent contemplation at the beginning of the day helps a child get into the habit of actually PLANNING his or her actions.
Go Rabbi Frank from Flatbush!