Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins welcomed Rabbi Velvl Butman, Executive Director of Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester County, for a Government Menorah lighting ceremony and a proclamation honoring the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin.
In attendance was Richard G. Wishnie, Deputy County Executive of Westchester County, together with senior members of the administration and County government.
County Executive Jenkins spoke of the importance of religious freedom in the United States, noting that the Founding Fathers came to this land in great part to secure freedom of religion. He emphasized that protecting freedom, together with strengthening education, values and family life, is essential to the moral health of the nation.
Rabbi Velvl Butman presented Mr. Jenkins with a Menorah, explaining its universal meaning.
“The Menorah teaches us that every child and every human being carries within them a spark of G-d,” Rabbi Butman said. “Each person is, in essence, a walking Menorah. When a child is educated with values, faith, and responsibility, their inner light shines outward — illuminating families, communities, and society.”
County Executive Jenkins reflected on the central role of faith and family life, emphasizing that strong families are the foundation of strong communities. Supporting parents, nurturing children, and reinforcing time honored values in the home, he said, are essential to building a happy and compassionate society.
Rabbi Butman explained the significance of the central candle of the Menorah, which the County Executive lit. Although it is not counted among the eight candles themselves, Rabbi Butman noted that it serves a unique purpose — to light the others.
“This candle represents leadership,” he explained. “Leadership means sharing your light with others, ensuring that no child and no individual is left behind.”
Chanukah affirms the sanctity and infinite value of every human life — regardless of race, color, or creed — because all of humanity is created by the Infinite Creator. He explained that educating every child with this principle is the foundation of a moral society and the real answer to crime, violence, and terrorism.
He noted that a society cannot rely solely on fear of punishment to shape behavior. Teaching a child not to do wrong merely because a police officer might be watching sends the wrong message — that when authority is absent, anything is permissible. True education teaches that harming another human being is wrong not because one might be caught, but because every human life is sacred, created by G-d, and deserving of dignity, honor and respect at all times.
Westchester County government officials appreciated the Chassidic teachings that every child is beloved and precious in the eyes of the Creator, and that the Creator wants the sincerity of the human heart. Life is not measured by how much knowledge one possesses or how smart one is, but by the sincerity of one’s heart — how one uses the mind to refine their character and improve their personality, and live with faith, honesty and integrity. True education teaches a child to serve G-d with joy, honesty, responsibility and genuine love.
Referencing the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Butman pointed to the powerful messages found on the United States dollar: the Eye that sees, reminding us that our actions matter; “E Pluribus Unum,” calling on us to remain united; and “In G-d We Trust,” affirming that faith is the foundation of the nation. Together, these messages give a person meaning an teach accountability, unity, and trust in G-d.
Chanukah teaches a fundamental truth: darkness does not retreat — it disappears when light is present. Even a single candle has the power to eliminate darkness. Every act of goodness, every good deed, and every Mitzvah has the power to remove evil from the world and to tip the scales toward redemption, bringing the world closer to Moshiach.
County Executive Jenkins expressed appreciation for the more than ten Chabad centers serving communities across Westchester County and thanked Rabbi Butman for his leadership in establishing the Chabad centers and for his dedication to helping all people of Westchester County since his arrival in 1993.
The proclamation issued by County Executive Jenkins declares “178 Days of Education & Goodness and Kindness,” marking the period from Chanukah (28 Kislev 5786) through 28 Sivan 5786 (June 13, 2026), commemorating 85 years since the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin’s miraculous arrival in the United States, escaping the European Holocaust.
The celebration concluded on a high note of appreciation, with a shared commitment to continue strengthening moral values, education, family life, and unity throughout Westchester County, uplifting spirits and caring for every citizen. Especially children.
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FULL TEXT OF THE PROCLAMATION
Whereas,
The miraculous Chanukah victory — culminating with the rededication of the sanctuary in Jerusalem and the rekindling of the Menorah which had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy — has been celebrated annually ever since during these eight days of Chanukah, especially by lighting the Chanukah Menorah, also as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness;
Whereas,
The Chanukah Lights remind us in a most obvious way that illumination begins at home, within oneself and one’s family, by increasing and intensifying the light of goodness and kindness in everyday life, as the Chanukah Lights are kindled in growing numbers from day to day;
Whereas,
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, has established more than 5,000 Chabad House centers around the world, spanning six continents, and the Rebbe encourages all people of the world, regardless of race, color, or creed, to prepare for Moshiach by doing additional acts of goodness and kindness, hastening the Biblical promise of a world of universal peace and harmony with recognition of the Creator;
Whereas,
Saturday, June 13, 2026, corresponding to the 28th of Sivan 5786, marks 85 years since the miraculous arrival of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson to the United States of America on Monday, 28 Sivan 5701 (June 23, 1941), escaping the European Holocaust;
Now, therefore,
I, Ken Jenkins, Westchester County Executive, do hereby proclaim the upcoming 178 days leading up to the 85-year anniversary of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin’s arrival in the United States of America — beginning December 18, 2025, corresponding to 28 Kislev 5786, through June 13, 2026, corresponding to 28 Sivan 5786 — as
“178 Days of Education & Goodness and Kindness”
in Westchester County, New York, in honor of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin.
So nice to see
Kol Hakovod!