In 1978, the U.S. Congress proclaimed 11 Nissan as “Education Day USA,” and the Rebbe urged the government to lead nationally and globally in promoting moral and ethical education. Read about the Rebbe’s vision for the Federal Department of Education.
Rebbe Responsa
A New Era of Education
The late 1970s in America saw a new era of focus on education, led by then President Jimmy Carter, culminating in the establishment of the Federal Department of Education, founded on October 17, 1979 (Tishrei 5740).
The Rebbe’s involvement in the establishment of this department was extensive, from suggesting to explaining and finally lobbying, prompting Secretary of Education (Clinton administration) Richard Riley to remark about the Rebbe’s support for the department’s creation, “I owe my job to him.”
Following is a brief outline of the events pertaining to this topic.
Beginnings
The Year 5736 was proclaimed by the Rebbe as “A year of Education”, and a strong focus on activities of education continued in the subsequent few years.
In 1978, U.S. Congress passed a resolution proclaiming 11 Nissan, the Rebbe’s birthday, as “Education Day U.S.A.”
President Carter signed a proclamation shortly afterwards, asking all Americans to observe Education Day (from that year and on, every U.S. President has joined in doing the same).
At the farbrengen on Yud-Alef Nissan, the Rebbe spoke at length on the subject, and urged the U.S. government to become a national and global leader in moral and ethical education. The Rebbe’s remarks were published in a full-page ad in the Washington Post.
On September 18, 1978, the President wrote a warm letter to the Rebbe, saying “I read with great interest the full-page ad… your response to the resolution passed by Congress designating. ‘Education Day – U.S.A.’ I admire the thoughts which you expressed — and am grateful for your support and prayers… I would like to take this opportunity of extending to you my personal best wishes for many more years of good health and fruitful work”.
Federal Involvement
From its founding, the United States kept education under state and local control, with minimal federal involvement or funding. As of 1978, education remained consolidated under the Department of HEW (Health, Education, and Welfare), reducing its national priority. Despite many attempts to establish a separate Education Department, opposition was fierce. Critics worried about government expansion, religious schools’ autonomy, and states’ rights infringement.
In late January 1979 (Teves 5739), President Carter declared the idea to finally make the change, in his State of the Union address.
At the Farbrengen marking Yud Shevat, the Rebbe spoke of this momentous development and the tremendous national and global benefit furthering education will achieve (see the officially published Sicha below).
The Rebbe subsequently sent letters of support, where he also outlined his position on the importance of the idea, to President Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale, as well as senators and congressmen, a selection of which we present in this booklet.
Eventually, the Department was successfully founded on 26 Tishrei 5740.
In this booklet the Rebbe’s vision for the Federal Department of Education is explored.
Here we see not just the Rebbe’s clearly outlined vision for such a department, but also understand the immense and tremendously important impact it can have. In addition, we observe the efforts of the Rebbe in actually lobbying for this cause, corresponding with key people of influence, at various levels of federal government.
Rebbe Responsa kindly requests anyone who may be in possession of letters of the Rebbe in English, to send them by email so that these unique treasures can benefit the public.
These selected letters are sourced from the extensive collection of over 5,000 English letters written by the Rebbe, accessible through the Rebbe Responsa app.
Click here to download the booklet.
- Click here for PDF in booklet format.
- Click here to view all previous editions.
- Click here for a letter on Parshas Veyechi.
- Rebbe Responsa recently launched a daily letter cycle which can be viewed on the homepage of the app. Click here for letters for week one.
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Trump wants to get rid of the Department of Education.
Considering what it’s become, a vector of all kinds of pathologies, anti-Torah and anti-human ideas, there’s good reason to do so.