It’s not an easy time in Albany, the Capitol of the State of New York. The Budget was not passed yet. The state legislators are very busy. They are hurrying from meeting to meeting and from committee to committee. But they came on Monday April 3, for a Special Celebration in honor of the Rebbe. For the Rebbe they made time!
The Celebration and the passing of the Resolution in the Assembly was chaired by Assemblyman David Weprin and co-chaired by Assemblyman Dov Hikind. The Celebration and the passing of the Resolution in the Senate was chaired by State Senator Jesse Hamilton. Governor Cuomo was represented at the Celebration by Jere Hochman, Deputy Secretary for Education of the State of New York.
Video: Dov Hikind introduces Rabbi Shmuel Butman at NYS Assembly
In his prayer Rabbi Shmuel 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.”
Rabbi Butman further stressed that in Psalm 116 that we start saying on the Rebbe’s birthday, Friday 11 Nissan, Dovid Hamelech (King David) says “To you I shall offer an offering of thanks.” The Rebbe explains that in this world there is “No good without bad and no bad without good,” we, therefore, have to look for the good and the positive in every situation.
The Advice of the Rebbe for opening Senate in Washington
Before he opened the United States Senate in Washington in 1991, the Rebbe told Rabbi: “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, 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 into the Pushka. “They are doing what the Rebbe wants” said a jubilant David Weprin. Many expressed their sincere personal appreciation for a message of guidens and encouragement.
Following the Prayer David Weprin spoke from the Assembly floor greeting the Lubavitch Youth Organization for their great outreach activities, and Rabbi Butman “who lights every Chanukah the world’s tallest Menorah on Fifth Avenue.”
Dov Hikind took the floor of the Assembly and spoke with loving reverence about the Rebbe.
“I had many opportunities to stand before the Rebbe and to speak with him—he gave me instructions in terms of things I needed to accomplish, the Rebbe was truly a unique person. If you were in his presence, you were close to the presence of G-d.
“The Rebbe didn’t look at the color of your skin. He didn’t look at the religion that you practiced. He treated everyone the way that G-d wants us to treat each other.
“He may not be here physically any longer, but his presence is felt through everything that he did, everything that he created. There are 3500 Chabad houses all over the world where Jews and non-Jews visit and receive hospitality and the Rebbe’s messages. What an achievement!
“And what were the Rebbe’s messages? The importance of charity. The importance of education. The same messages that Rabbi Butman delivered to us today the Rebbe’s schluchim deliver in every corner of the world, and G-d knows we need those messages.”
“This was a real day of inspiration” said David Weprin “You see the impact of the Rebbe.”
That is just so touching. Putting tzeddaka is such a big thing for those people and for the world and makes the Rebbe very happy.
Moshiach Now!