Education Day in All 50 States

This year marks 40 years since the US Congress passed a Joint Resolution acknowledging the Rebbe’s important contribution to the national conversation about education, and calling upon all Americans and then-President Jimmy Carter to designate Yud Alef Nissan as Education Day, USA, “Devoted to the importance of education to the lives of all its citizens and to the general well being of the nation.”

President Carter signed a proclamation that year designating Education Day, USA, and it has become a tradition by Presidents of both parties ever since.
This year, in a historical first, the governors of all 50 states and Mayor of the District of Columbia have joined the President in paying tribute to Education Day, USA together with hundreds of local municipalities and government officials across the country.

This initiative, coordinated under the direction of Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), was inspired by the Rebbe’s specific appreciation for the President’s proclamations going all the way back to 1978. Three months after that initial proclamation, on Chof Av, and on the eve of the new school year, the Rebbe called upon all local municipalities to follow the President’s direction to designate a day for contemplating the true meaning of education and to encourage their local citizens to reflect on how everyone can enhance the moral and ethical education of all children.

With Shluchim now stationed in all 50 states, the idea of bringing this concept of Education and Sharing Day, USA to the state level throughout the nation has become a reality.

Several state legislatures also joined the national initiative by passing their own resolutions in support of Education Day and a number of Members of Congress expressed their support as well. In dozens of locations, Shluchim met with local government leaders to receive the Proclamations and to share the Rebbe’s vital message with them.

Discussions were held in City Halls, State Legislatures, County Courthouses, School District meetings and at community events. The momentum spurred many people from a variety of backgrounds to encourage their constituents via social media to observe the day as well.

Click here to see proclamations from the President and all 50 governors displayed on Chabad.org.

Click here to read about the history of Education Day, USA in A Chassidisher Derher Magazine.