'Education and Sharing Day' Honors Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Education and Sharing Day, Honors Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

'Education and Sharing Day' Honors Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (Donald Trump) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The president proclaimed March 27, 2018 as Education and Sharing Day

President Donald J. Trump of the United States met a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi delegation in the Oval Office. Trump issued a proclamation which designated March 27, 2018 as the Education and Sharing Day.[/tweetit] The day is the birth anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last Lubavitcher rebbe.

‘Education and Sharing Day’Honors Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson[/tweetthis]

The current delegation was led by Rabbi Avraham Shemtov. He is the chairman of the Agudas Chassidei Chabad and is known for coordinating the activities linked with the 1978 Education Day celebration. This was the first celebration and took place in Washington D.C.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the Executive Vice President, American Friends of Lubavitch, said that the rebbe's work is much admired by President Trump. The president was thus keen to recognize Education Day even though he had a lot of other work and many responsibilities to tackle the entire day. Shemtov said Trump agreed with rebbe's view that even a small light could dispel a mound of darkness. The Jewish delegation also spoke with the future national security adviser John Bolton.

The group was warmly welcomed to the White House by President Trump. Rabbi Shemtov recited the age-old prayer which is made when a Jewish delegation meets head of state. Trump in turn expressed his respect for rebbe, specifically emphasizing the efforts which the latter initiated and inspired when it came to education.

The rabbis gave the president two gifts: a silver menorah and a leather covered Passover Haggadah which has the name of the president embossed in gold. Trump also inscribed a similar Haggadah which will be dispatched to Jewish soldiers deputed on active duty. It will be used at seders. After he received the gifts, President Trump greeted each member of the delegation while they departed from the Oval Office. According to Shemtov, Education day involves searching a bit deeper, and find life's greater meaning. This day could be the vehicle to comprehend such an enlightenment.

The current president is not alone in marking March 27 as the Education and Sharing Day. Six former presidents, including Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter, have proclaimed the same. Such proclamations or their equivalents were issued in 2018 the governors of all the states which make up the United States. The Mayor of Washington D.C. did the same. The same procedure was followed by mayors of 100 other American cities.

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