Double Celebration in City Hall

New York City Council opened with prayer in honor of the Rebbe and issued a proclamation honoring the 116th birthday on the 11th of Nissan.

The Proclamation in honor of the Rebbe was organized by the Speaker of the New York City Council Corey Johnson, Councilwoman and Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo and Councilman and Chairman of the Jewish Caucus Chaim M. Deutsch.

The mood in City Hall was festive. Speaker Johnson said that he is honored to present the Proclamation in Honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.

“Today, the Chabad Lubavitch movement has institutions in all 50 of our United States and operates over 5000 centers in over 1000 cities in 102 countries around the world. We are proud that during the last 78 years, since 1940, the Chabad Lubavitch movement has their world Headquarters in the City of New York.”

Majority Leader Cumbo said in her remarks that “it is an honor for me to co-sponsor this Proclamation and to represent the Chassidic community of Crown Heights. The Chassidic community of Crown Heights is exemplary in dedication and commitment. This is a special day for all of us.”

Speaker Johnson then presented the Proclamation to Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Director, Lubavitch Youth Organization, who thanked Johnson, Cumbo and Deutsch and all the City Council members.

“When the Rebbe spoke education, he meant the education of every child, the American child, the African child, the Asian child, the European child, the Mid-Eastern child, the Far-Eastern child, all the children of the world,” said Rabbi Butman.

“The Rebbe said many times that he wants the children to know that there is ‘an eye that sees and an ear that hears and that the world is not a Jungle.'”

Rabbi Butman also shared with the members of the Council that a reporter from CNN once asked the Rebbe what his message to the world is. The Rebbe responded that his message to the world is “that we live in the last generation of exile and the first generation of Redemption and we can bring the Redemption closer by doing more acts of goodness and kindness.”

“This is not Fake News. this is a reporter from CNN asking and the Rebbe responding,” said Rabbi Butman.

After that Rabbi Butman opened the session of the City Council with a prayer in honor of the Rebbe.

Before he opened the United States Senate in Washington in 1991, the Rebbe told Rabbi Butman: “Take a Pushka (charity box) with you and let everyone see what you are doing and let them know on what money should be spent for.”

Rabbi Butman did the same during the opening of the New York City Council. He also asked the City Council members to participate by offering one dollar in the Pushka. “This is not a fund-raising effort” he assured the members of the City Council, “for if it was we would ask you for much more than one dollar, this is an effort to do an act of charity, goodness and kindness.”

“In our Synagogues every Sabbath we offer a special prayer for you. We say “and all those who serve the public faithfully should be blessed with all good blessings of health and prosperity in your communal endeavors as well as in your private lives.”

“It was indeed heart-warming to see how the members of the City Council lined up, with spirit and enthusiasm, to put a dollar bill into the Pushka. “They are doing what the Rebbe wants,” said a jubilant Councilman Chaim Deutsch.

Many expressed their sincere personal appreciation for a message of guidance and encouragement. Rabbi Butman also thanked Councilman Alan Maisel for his help.

A similar Proclamation was issued by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, as well as 116 Days of Education Resolutions by both houses of the New York State legislature the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.