Education & Sharing Day USA
President Biden signing a proclamation on Education and Sharing Day USA, 2024
Just a few hours ago, President Biden signed a proclamation declaring today, April 19, 2024, Education & Sharing Day USA.
Established in 1978 by a joint Congressional resolution, Education & Sharing Day U.S.A. focuses on the very foundation of meaningful education: instructing our youth in the ways of morality and ethics, and teaching them an appreciation for divine inviolable values.
Since President Jimmy Carter, each presiding president designates annually Education and Sharing Day U.S.A. on the Hebrew birthday of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who dedicated his life to the cause of education. The proclamation acknowledges his efforts for education and sharing for Jews and non-Jews alike, through the many centers of education he established. He encouraged both private and public schools to incorporate good educational morals and values based on belief in G-d. Thanks to his efforts, a "Moment of Silence" is currently mandated for public schools in 15 states (Florida legislated the law in 2021, Kentucky in 2022) and encouraged (but not required) in another 25.
On the first "Education Day USA," April 18, 1978, the Rebbe shared, “Education, in general, should not be limited to the acquisition of knowledge and preparation for a career, or, in common parlance, “to make a better living.” And we must think in terms of a ‘”better living” not only for the individual, but also for the society as a whole. The educational system must, therefore, pay more attention, indeed the main attention, to the building of character, with emphasis on moral and ethical values.”
While this was true throughout history, this is all the more relevant at this time when U.S. universities are becoming hotbeds of extremism and anti-Semitism.
Earlier this week, Columbia University president, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, was grilled about campus antisemitism during a congressional hearing. At one point, U.S. Representative Rick Allen, turned to the president and her colleagues and asked, “Do you know what’s written on top of our American Flag? In G-d We Trust! We have freedom of speech and freedom of religion in our country, yet we also have the image of Moses looking down at an entire body of congress. He transmitted to us the laws of the Bible and most of our U.S. laws are based on those laws. Yet we now have lawless universities that are overrun by people who are threatening to harm or kill other students.
He then suggests to the president and her trustees to introduce a course on morals and ethics based on Divine truths, especially for students who have seemingly lost all moral clarity (see here).
The theme of education is also a central theme of the upcoming holiday of Passover.
On the night of the Seder there is a Mitzvah of telling the story, especially to the next generation. As the Torah states, “And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, "Because of this, the Lord did [this] for me when I went out of Egypt."- Exodus 13:8
In the Haggadah we learn about four sons at the Seder table: the wise, the wicked, the simple one, and the one who does not know how to ask.
The four sons not only represent four types of people, they also express four different parts of our personality and character.
The four sons may be understood and analyzed from various angles and perspectives.
Chacham (Wise): The wise son represents the intellect within us that relates to the rational and universalistic aspects of Judaism but has a difficult time accepting the suprarational Mitzvot and traditions.
Rasha (Wicked): This refers to the rebellious son and the cynic within us. While the term Rasha is usually translated as wicked, often, a rebellious or challenging child is only responding to a negative experience or upbringing and is internally really yearning for love, clarity and direction.
Tam (Simple): The word Tam in Hebrew can also mean “complete” and self-sustaining. This refers to the selfish part of our personality which feels entitled and deserving of our gifts and success and challenges the need for spirituality, faith and community.
She'ei'no Yodea Lishol (One which doesn't know how to ask): While the first three sons are actively engaged in the Passover seder, the fourth son is totally disinterested and feels detached from the whole experience.
Instead of dismissing and becoming disheartened from their questions or seeming lack of enthusiasm, the Torah gives us the lesson and guidance on how to respond to each individual child and characteristic.
There is an expression, “Answer the person, not the question”. We learn to empathize with the child and see where they are coming from so that we can help them overcome their challenges and reconnect with their souls.
We share with them the beauty of our Jewish heritage and what the relevance of the Passover holiday of freedom means for our modern lives.
On Passover we not only reminisce about the story that occurred to our ancestors thousands of years ago, but, more importantly, we relive the exodus and learn how to express our freedom each day. As we recite in the Haggadah, “Not only our ancestors did the Holy One, blessed be He, redeem, but rather also us [together] with them did he redeem, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 6:23), "And He took us out from there, in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He swore unto our fathers."
True freedom is the ability to express our very essence. If there are levels to our personality that have not been explored, if our soul has not had the opportunity to be expressed, then we are not yet truly free.
Imagine living in a society without rules and regulations. Understandably, it wouldn't be a very safe place to reside. The governing laws of a civilized country allow us to prosper and live in harmony with one another.
Liberty and freedom does not necessarily mean unlimited choices and opportunities. Rather, true freedom enables us to express our core identity, beliefs and values.
While the “Four Sons” differ from one another in their reaction to the Seder service, they have one thing in common: they are all present at the Seder service. Even the so-called “rebellious” son is there, taking an active, though challenging, interest in what is going on in Jewish life around him. This, at least, justifies the hope that someday also the “rebellious” one will become wise, and all Jewish children attending the Seder will become conscientious, and connect with their Judaism.
Unfortunately, there is presently another kind of a Jewish child: the child who is conspicuous by his or her absence from the Seder service; the one who has no interest whatsoever in Torah and Mitzvot, laws and customs; who is not even aware of the Seder, of the Exodus from Egypt and the subsequent Revelation at Sinai.
This presents a challenge and responsibility for each of us. For no Jewish child should be forgotten and given up. We must make every effort to save that “lost” child, and bring the absentee to the Seder table.
Let us use the inspiration of this special day to incorporate the values of education and sharing into our own lives and careers and usher in a peaceful era for all of humanity with the coming of the redemption.
Let us pray that we continue to experience miracles as Israel has witnessed this week, and may we merit the return of our hostages and the ultimate Redemption with the coming of Moshiach now. As we declare at the end of the Hagaddah, “Leshana Haba B’yerushalyim (next year in Jerusalem)”. Each year we pray that by next year we will celebrate together in Jerusalem with the coming of Moshiach who will usher in a peaceful and prosperous time for all nations on earth.
