In an unusual occurrence, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan invited a group of local shluchim to join a televised board meeting, which he opened with a talk on the Rebbe’s life and mission and formally proclaimed the Rebbe’s 120th birthday as Education and Sharing Day.
By Anash.org reporter
The group of smiling shluchim were an unusual sight to behold at Maryland’s Board of Public Works Estimate meeting, crowding around the state governor for a group photo while he proudly displayed his latest proclamation honoring the Rebbe’s 120th birthday.
Earlier that day, a group of 30 shluchim had met the Governor for the signing of a proclamation declaring Yud Alef Nissan as ‘Education and Sharing Day’. He invited the shluchim to join him for a photo in honor of the occasion.
Following the official ceremony, the Governor invited a group of shluchim to join him in the meeting for the Maryland Board of Public Works, which was being televised live. The Governor first spoke about the Rebbe and Education Day, and then invited Maryland head shliach Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan addressed those in attendance, both in person and virtually.
The invitation came as a surprise, as usually guests are not invited to address such meetings, and the invitation to Rabbi Kaplan was the first of a kind. Rabbi Kaplan shared the Rebbe’s message of the importance of instilling moral values and responsibility in children, and presented the governor with a Tzedakah box as a gift, representing the universal value of sharing with those less fortunate.
The meeting was organized by shliach and Director of Jewish Uniformed Service Association of MD – Chabad (JUSA), Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum.
Maryland Comptroller Peter V. R. Franchot joined in the fun as well, chatting with the shluchim and posing with them for a photo.
The governor, who has indicated he may run for president in 2024, shared the experience on social media, publicizing his recognition of the Rebbe’s achievements and proclamation of the Rebbe’s birthday as “Education and Sharing Day”.
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