40,000 Students Start the Day with a Moment of Silence 

Inspired by the Rebbe’s vision, ‘A Meaningful Moment’ led by Rabbi Mendel Banon, has now been adopted by over 80 schools and is reaching more than 40,000 students. A new article in the conservative City Journal highlights the growing momentum behind this initiative.

By Anash.org reporter

As we approach the Rebbe’s 123rd birthday – recognized all over the US as Education and Sharing Day – a new article published in the City Journal, a political conservative magazine known for its in-depth analysis of education and public policy, highlights the growing momentum behind the Moment of Silence initiative, inspired by the Rebbe’s vision.

Written by Ray Domanico, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, the piece begins by addressing the mounting challenges facing American schools, including student detachment, chronic absenteeism, and the overwhelming influence of social media and artificial intelligence. Domanico notes that these issues “won’t be able to be solved alone” by schools, as they stem from broader cultural changes, including “declining trust in institutions and plummeting religious participation.”

The article highlights an initiative called ‘A Meaningful Moment,’ led by Rabbi Mendel Banon of Crown Heights, which encourages educators, politicians, and community leaders to incorporate the Moment of Silence as part of the solution. This initiative allows students to begin their day with quiet reflection, helping them “explore what it means to live meaningfully—one moment at a time.”

In recent years, ‘A Meaningful Moment’ has grown significantly, having already been adopted in over 80 schools, reaching more than 40,000 students. He describes the initiative as “a respite from the barrage of social media, artificial intelligence, and intergroup conflict” and suggests that it could serve as a powerful tool to counteract the rising disengagement among students.

While education policy debates continue at the national level, the article notes, “practical solutions to the challenges facing families, children, and schools are increasingly emerging locally, where ownership of ideas takes root.”