April 12, 2022: Education and Sharing Day

WHEREAS, a quality education is one of the significant foundations for the continuing success of our state, our country, and our society at large; and in the great state of Michigan we strive for the betterment of all of our citizens through an increased focus on education and sharing; and,

WHEREAS, through providing the possibility of an excellent education for all, especially children, with which to gain knowledge through rigorous study, we can create hope for a brighter, kinder and more united and prosperous future for so many; and,

WHEREAS, the educational system must also focus on building character by emphasizing the cultivation of universal moral and ethical values that have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization; and,

WHEREAS, one of the leading global advocates for the advancement of education, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of righteous memory, stressed the importance of moral and ethical education as the bedrock of humanity and the hallmark of a healthy society, and strongly urged that education be reinforced by the inculcation of strong moral values; and,

WHEREAS, in recognition of the Rebbe's outstanding and lasting contributions toward improvements in world education, morality, and acts of charity, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, and the United States Congress has established his birthdate as a national day to raise awareness and strengthen the education of our children; and,

WHEREAS, April 12, 2022, will mark 120 years since the Rebbe’s birth, and the date will be celebrated across these United States and around the globe in tribute to the Rebbe’s vision, guidance and leadership; and, 

WHEREAS, for more than forty years the President of the United States has recognized and honored the Rebbe's vision each year on that day by proclaiming it "Education & Sharing Day USA"; and, 

WHEREAS, we can nurture the unity of diverse peoples through encouraging increased acts of goodness and kindness, imbued with awareness that even a single positive act of an individual can make a major impact in this world; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim April 12, 2022, as Education and Sharing Day in Michigan and call upon government officials, educators, volunteers, and citizens to reach out to those within your communities and work to create a better, brighter, and more hopeful future for all.