The 10th day of Nissan is not an easy time in Albany, the Capitol of the State of New York. The budget must pass before April 1 in order for the state to function continuously.
This year April 1 is on a Sunday. The budget, therefore, has to pass on Thursday, March 29.
It is now Monday, March 26. As the budget did not pass yet, state legislators are hurrying from meeting to meeting and from committee to committee. But they made the time to celebrate the Rebbe’s birthday.
Both houses of the New York State legislature – the State Assembly and the State Senate – passed resolutions proclaiming “116 Days of Education” in honor of the Rebbe.
Signed by Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, it reads: “The Lubavitch movement has made its world headquarters in New York City since 1940, our state is proud to serve in this meaningful capacity for Jewish community for the last 78 years.”
Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Executive Director of the Central Lubavitch Youth Organization (“Tzach”), was on hand to deliver an invocation to mark the occasion.
In his prayer, Rabbi Butman stressed that the Rebbe wants each child, regardless of race, religion, color or creed to know that “There is an eye that sees and an ear that hears and that the world is not a jungle.”
Before he opened the United States Senate in Washington in 1991, the Rebbe told Rabbi Butman: “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.”
Rabbi Butman did the same during the opening of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. He also asked the Senators and Assembly members to participate by offering one dollar in the Pushka.
“This is not a fund-raising effort,” he assured the members of the Senate and Assembly, “for if it were, we would ask you for much more than one dollar, this is an effort to do an act of charity, goodness and kindness.”
It was indeed heart-warming to see how the Senators and the Assembly members lined up, with spirit and enthusiasm, to put a dollar bill into the Pushka. “They are doing what the Rebbe wants” said a jubilant Senator David Weprin. Many expressed their sincere personal appreciation for a message of guidance and encouragement.
