Editing Menachem Mendel Schneerson (section)

=== United States ===
Schneerson spoke of the position of the United States as a world superpower, and would praise what he considered its foundational values of '"[[E pluribus unum]]'—from many one", and "[[In God We Trust]]".<ref>Menachem M. Schneerson, [http://www.chabad.org/1180692 The Difference Between Faith and Trust]. January 15, 1981.</ref> He called on the government to develop independent energy, and not need to rely on totalitarian regimes whose countries national interests greatly differed from the U.S.<ref>Yosef Abramowitz, [http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Better-Energy-The-Rebbes-energy-361147 "Better Energy, The Rebbe's Energy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008195423/http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Better-Energy-The-Rebbes-energy-361147 |date=October 8, 2014 }}. ''The Jerusalem Post'', January 7, 2014.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=America's Mandate: Energy Independence – Part 1 |url=https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/394468/jewish/Americas-Mandate-Energy-Independence-Part-1.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/394468/jewish/Americas-Mandate-Energy-Independence-Part-1.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Chabad.org}}</ref> Schneerson also called for the U.S. Government to use its influence on countries who were receiving its foreign aid to do more for the educational and cultural needs of their deprived citizens.<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/816546 The Start of "Education Day USA"], compiled by Dovid Zaklikowski.</ref><ref>Joseph Telushkin, ''[[Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History]]''. HarperCollins, 2014. Page 162.</ref>

Schneerson placed a strong emphasis on education and often spoke of the need of a moral educational system for all people. He was an advocate of a [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]] as a separate cabinet position from the [[United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare|Department of Health, Education and Welfare]].<ref>Sue Fishkoff, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4R7zbndjTRgC&dq=schneerson+department+of+education&pg=PA192 The Rebbe's Army]''. Random House, 2003. Pages 192-193.</ref> Schneerson proclaimed 1977 as a "Year of Education" and urged Congress to do the same. He stated that education "must think in terms of a 'better living' not only for the individual, but also for the society as a whole. The educational system must, therefore, pay more attention to the building of character, with emphasis on moral and ethical values. Education must put greater emphasis on the promotion of fundamental human rights and obligations of justice and morality, which are the basis of any human society".<ref>Menachem M. Schneerson, [http://www.chabad.org/1167634 "Education is the Cornerstone of Humanity"]. April 18, 1978.</ref>
[[File:Reagan_receives_menorah_1986.jpg|right|thumb|259x259px|President [[Ronald Reagan]] receives menorah from the "American Friends of Lubavitch", White House, 1984]]
The Ninety-Fifth Congress of the United States issued a Joint Resolution proclaiming 1978 as a Year of Education and designating April 18, 1978, as "Education Day, U.S.A.".<ref>95th Congress, [[s:Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 1.djvu/254|Public Law 95-262]]. Apr. 17. 1978.</ref> Each year since, the President of the United States has proclaimed Schneerson's birthday as "Education Day, U.S.A." in his honor.<ref>Ron Kampeas, [http://www.jta.org/2009/04/05/news-opinion/united-states/obama-marks-schneersons-education-day Obama: Schneerson’s legacy is ‘brighter future’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031004730/http://www.jta.org/2009/04/05/news-opinion/united-states/obama-marks-schneersons-education-day |date=October 31, 2014 }}. April 15, 2011, Jewish Telegraphic Agency.</ref>

During his life, Schneerson had great influence on numerous political leaders from across the aisle, many of whom would seek his advice. He was visited by presidents, prime ministers, governors, senators, congressmen and mayors. Notable among them are John F. Kennedy, [[Robert Kennedy]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.]], [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Jacob Javits]], [[Ed Koch]], [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[David Dinkins]] and [[Joe Lieberman]].<ref name="farfromempty">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/nyregion/15rooms.html |title=No One There, But This Place Is Far From Empty |work=The New York Times |date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2013 |archive-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419033456/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/nyregion/15rooms.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Ehrlich, M. Avrum, The Messiah of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidim Past and Present, (KTAV Publishing, January 2005) p. 109. {{ISBN|0-88125-836-9}}</ref>

According to Howard Mortman's book,  ''When Rabbis Bless Congress'', Schneerson was the rabbi most mentioned in Congress.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Jewish prayers on Capitol Hill: From Lincoln to Roosevelt to Biden|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/jewish-prayers-on-capitol-hill-from-lincoln-to-roosevelt-to-biden-668102|access-date=May 13, 2021|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post &#124; Jpost.com|language=en-US|archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513153652/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/jewish-prayers-on-capitol-hill-from-lincoln-to-roosevelt-to-biden-668102|url-status=live}}</ref>