Many(but not all) recent Education and Sharing Day proclamations fail to mention the Noahide Laws anymore, but that does not mean that Chabad is not instructing politicians on the Noahide Laws on Education and Sharing Day. In the New York State Education and Sharing Day, the state government commemoration was opened with a Noahide prayer.
New York State government, located in Albany, continued a long standing tradition of honoring the Rebbe on his birthday. It was led by Rabbi Velvl Butman following his late father’s initiative.
New York State government, located in Albany, has a long standing tradition of honoring the Rebbe.
Every year in honor of the Rebbe’s birthday, Senators and Assemblymen from both political parties unite for a common cause. The Rebbe.
April is usually a busy time in Albany. The Capitol building of the State of New York is pulsating with intense negotiations to pass the budget. The state legislators are busy. They are hurrying from meeting to meeting and from committee to committee. But they stop to pay tribute to the Rebbe.
For many decades, Rabbi Shmuel Butman of blessed memory, who was appointed by the Rebbe to be the Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization, would travel to Albany to open the Assembly and Senate with a Prayer in honor of the Rebbe’s birthday.
The Governor, Senate and Assembly, annually honor the Rebbe with a Proclamation and Days of Education. A prestigious reception is held by the Senate and Assembly in honor of the Rebbe.
This year, Rabbi Butman’s continued his father’s tradition in Albany. Rabbi Velvl Butman, Executive Director of Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester County, opened the legislative session with a Prayer and recieved the Governor’s, Senate and Assembly Proclamations of 123 Days of Education in honor of the Rebbe’s 123rd birthday.
After the opening morning Prayer of the Assembly, Assemblyman David Weprin, chairman of the Celebration Committee spoke about the international activities of Chabad Lubavitch and the over 6000 Shluchim and Chabad House Centers in over 100 countries in the world.
“They are there to represent the Rebbe, to help in any capacity that they can. It is my pleasure to be involved with the Chabad Lubavitch movement for many years and to sponsor this Resolution in honor of the Rebbe’s One Hundred and Twenty Third Birthday.”
In his Prayer, Rabbi Butman cited the message of the Rebbe regarding the 7 Noahide laws, as they are the foundation for a peaceful and civilized society and the importance of education for all children, regardless of race, color or creed.
As the Rebbe emphasizes that children must learn from the earliest age that there is ‘An eye that sees and an ear that hears’ and that the world is not a jungle. Moshiach Is On His Way and we should all do something additional in the realm of goodness and kindness.
The text for the Prayer was graciously provided by the Shliach to Minnesota, Rabbi Moshe Feller and his family. When Rabbi Feller submitted to the Rebbe the text for a similar Prayer, which focuses on a Supreme being and the Creator and the 7 Noahide Laws, to enact just laws to govern society, the Rebbe instructed Rabbi Feller to publicize the text in order for other Shluchim and Chabad Lubavitch representatives to use it in similar Prayer situations.
On behalf of the Butman family, Rabbi Velvl Butman expressed his family’s gratitude to Assemblyman David Weprin who for the many years helped their father Rabbi Shmuel Butman to prepare the Albany celebrations honoring the Rebbe.
“This has become an annual tradition in Albany. I remember when my late father the speaker of the Assembly Saul Weprin was the chairman. We are all here for the Rebbe,” said Assemblyman Weprin.
At the reception honoring the Rebbe, Assemblyman David Weprin introduced co-host State Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie the Sponsor of the Senate resolution.
“The Rebbe’s leadership continues to inspire the Jewish community of Crown Heights, all of New York and people around the world. As the Rebbe is revered and respected by Jews and non-Jews alike,” said Senator Myrie.
“The Rebbe’s teachings build bridges and partnerships across communities, strengthen the moral fabric for the benefit of all people and inspire good deeds, philanthropy and scholarly pursuits which reverberate to this day.”
Assemblyman Brian A. Cunningham who co-hosted the reception spoke of the Rebbe’s contribution to humanity, especially with a focus on education. Every child deserves a proper education, with love, faith, dedication and helping every child build good character for a meaningful and productive life.
Many Assemblymen and Senators spoke at the reception honoring the Rebbe. Including Assemblymen Simcha Eichenstein, Kalman Yeger, Aron Wieder, Ari Brown, Senator Simcha Felder and many more, representing districts from across New York State.
It was inspiring and heartwarming to see how legislators from both parties paid tribute and honor to the Rebbe. As they collectively acknowledge on behalf of all citizens of New York, that the Empire State of New York State is blessed to host the Rebbe, the greatest Jewish leader of our times and that New York is blessed to be the seat of Lubavitch World Headquarters since 1940.
Rabbi Yisroel Rubin, Head Shliach of Albany, spoke about the Rebbe’s activities all over the world and the messages we can all learn from Passover and the Matzah. Rabbi Rubin fondly recalled his friendship and memories of Rabbi Shmuel Butman.
Rabbi and Mrs. Mendel Rubin prepared an elegant delux Kosher lunch for all participants of the reception, including Lox and Bagles, Kosher healthy salads and a variety of Kosher delicacies.
Rabbi Shmuel Butman would recall with reverence that before he opened the United States Senate in Washington in the year 1991, the Rebbe told him “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.”
In accordance with the Rebbe’s directive, Rabbi Velvl Butman brought a Pushka with him to Albany. During his Prayer he put a dollar bill in the Pushka. Many legislators came to the podium to put a dollar in the charity box.
Rabbi Shmuel Butman would ask the legislators to join in putting a Dollar into the Pushka and say “This is not a fund-raising campaign, for if it were we would ask you for much more than one Dollar, this is part of the Rebbe’s campaign to do mere goodness and kindness”.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Rabbi Velvl Butman brought Crown Heights Lubavitch Shmurah Matzoh for the legislators. “The Rebbe wants that every Jew should have Shmurah Matzoh for both of the Pesach Seders,” Rabbi Butman said.
While the offices and chambers of the Capitol May have been busy with legislation to pass the New York State budget, the honor of the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s teachings were alive and palpable. The Rebbe was the focus and center. You can see and feel the Rebbe’s inspiration and presence in the highest government chambers of New York State.
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