President Barack Obama proclaimed April 3, 2012, the 110th anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, as Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., noting that “for centuries, the pursuit of knowledge and the cultivation of character have driven American progress and enriched our national life.”

The proclamation is the 34th such document issued by the White House, continuing a tradition begun by a joint Congressional resolution in 1978. Since then, each administration, in conjunction with the Washington, D.C. based American Friends of Lubavitch, has designated Education and Sharing Day on the anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe, who dedicated his life to the cause of education.

“Time and again, during moments of trial, Americans have demonstrated a fundamental commitment to compassion, cooperation, and goodwill toward others — doing not what is easy, but what is right. These qualities have come to define us, and as we prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders, let us nourish in them the virtues that have sustained our country for generations,” the president declared. “On Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., we reflect on the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who embodied that humanitarian spirit.

“As a tireless advocate for youth around the world, he inspired millions to lift the cause of education, to practice kindness and generosity, and to aspire toward their highest ideals,” continued Obama. “His enduring legacy lives on in those he touched, and today, we resolve to carry forward his dedication to service and scholarship.”