By Rabbi Levi Greenberg
Sunday, March 29, 2026, is Education and Sharing Day, a time to pause and reflect on the true purpose of learning. As the cornerstone of a free society, education does more than determine what we know; it shapes who we are. True education is not just the transmission of facts and figures. It must prepare children for a life of purpose by forming and strengthening their moral character.
This day is observed annually on the birthday of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, just four days before Passover. It honors the Rebbe’s lifelong advocacy for youth and his belief that a true education must be built on character, ethics, and personal responsibility.
On April 1-2, Jews around the world will celebrate Passover, the Festival of Freedom. The centerpiece of the holiday is the Passover Seder, the longest-running annual family dinner in history. While it commemorates the birth of the Jewish nation 3,338 years ago, the Seder is also a masterclass in education.
The evening is intentionally designed to spark curiosity. Through sensory experiences and symbolic foods, it compels children to ask questions. This dynamic is so central that the “Four Questions” (Ma Nishtana) are enshrined in the Haggadah (the Seder guidebook). Even if no children are present, the ritual remains unchanged: we must all ask and answer.
This ancient tradition endures because education is not about the delivery of data; it is about how we internalize timeless ideals. The Seder teaches us that these stories are meant to shape our appreciation for the world and our responsibility to improve it through our actions. Every year, the participants around the table are older and wiser, faced with new challenges and opportunities.
This pulse of education beats through the entire holiday. The freedom granted to the Jewish people over three millennia ago was, above all, the freedom to educate with purpose. Even during two centuries of Egyptian slavery, the Jewish people maintained a thriving educational system for literacy and mathematics, but it was an education devoid of higher meaning.
The Exodus was not just a reprieve from harsh labor; it was the birth of a new era of empowerment for all humanity. To transcend the self and live by the sacred ethical values known as the Seven Noahide Laws, a code of conduct that has formed the bedrock of civilization since time immemorial. To honor the Creator, respect life, reject violence, act honestly, value family, promote generosity, and build a just and moral society. Most importantly, to educate our youth in this spirit.
In our generation, the Rebbe emphasized how focusing on these timeless values can empower everyone to live up to their highest potential and purpose. Most importantly, every individual can be part of this process. Through serving as moral role models for our youth, we ensure society progresses toward an era of true peace.
I am so grateful to our state and local leaders for leading by example and inspiring all Texans, and especially our fellow El Pasoans, to observe Education and Sharing Day. Let us reflect on our collective obligation and opportunity to enhance the true education of our children. To serve as proper role models of how we take concrete action in bringing more goodness and kindness into our world. This is the perfect way to apply the cardinal educational lessons of Passover throughout the year and make a real difference.
Passover begins on April 1 at sunset and concludes on April 9. Learn more about Passover at chabadelpaso.com/passover.
Levi Greenberg is associate rabbi at Chabad Lubavitch of El Paso.
The post Opinion: Education and Sharing Day highlights values-driven learning ahead of Passover appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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