A Moment of Silence
“A moment of silence” is an educational initiative aimed at fostering students’ awareness of spiritual and moral values by creating a pause for inner reflection at the start of the school day.
The idea was proposed in the summer of 1983 (5743) by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who worked extensively to promote education rooted in universal values alongside an awareness of faith in the Creator of the world. In a talk on the 11th of Nissan, 1981, following the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, the Rebbe spoke about the importance of education and the concept of a “moment of silence.”
The Rebbe emphasized that the implementation of a moment of silence is relevant even in religious educational institutions: “It is necessary to stress that this matter (instilling and deepening the awareness of faith in the Creator of the world) is relevant even to religious schools and educational institutions.” However, there was a reservation regarding schools where prayers are recited at the beginning of the day and where faith is a primary focus. As the Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, explained: “There is no consideration that schools which begin the day with prayer should also observe a ‘moment of silence.’”
The Rebbe explained the background of this directive: Over the past fifty years, the spiritual and moral state of American youth has drastically declined. The sole reason for this is the absence of recognition of the Creator. Without belief in a “watchful eye and listening ear”—the awareness that there is a Master of the universe from whom nothing is hidden—there is no guarantee for adherence to the commandments “Do not murder” and “Do not steal.” As the Torah states, “There is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me.” The fear of punishment does not deter wrongdoing, as one believes they can evade the authorities, bribe them, or find other means of escape.
Therefore, it is essential to implement a daily moment of silence at the start of the school day, from preschool through university, allowing sixty seconds of reflection on the Creator of the world.
Following the Rebbe’s call, then-President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution encouraging the start of the school day with a moment of silence for contemplation on the Creator of the world and adherence to the Seven Noahide Laws. The Rebbe strongly supported this initiative, expressing hope that it would inspire the entire U.S. Senate and Congress to follow suit. In subsequent years, this directive was adopted in various U.S. states.
Questions and Answers
Following the Rebbe’s call, several questions arose regarding the initiative. The Rebbe addressed these during gatherings in the summers of 1983 and 1984:
1) Why a “moment of silence” and not a “moment of speech” about the Creator?
answer: Speech could immediately lead to disputes about imposing beliefs on students of different religions. School administrators and teachers might struggle to refrain from exerting influence or mentioning specific beliefs. A moment of silence eliminates this issue entirely. It prevents arguments among students about faith and religion.
Since the moment of silence is for reflection based on explanations given by parents at home, parents are directly involved in guiding their children to use the moment to think about the Creator. This provides not only physical sustenance as the child heads to school but also spiritual nourishment. Thought is often more profound and personal than speech, especially since no one else can know what an individual is thinking except for the Creator, who examines the heart and mind.
2) The U.S. Constitution mandates separation of church and state. How can religious concepts be introduced into public schools?
answer: This question stems from a literal interpretation, ignoring the essence of the matter. The Founders of the United States fled countries that restricted religious freedom and established a nation where everyone could freely practice their faith. They included the separation of church and state to protect this freedom. Now, this principle, meant to safeguard religious freedom, is being misused to limit the rights of parents who want their children educated in faith. Schools do not dictate the content of the moment of silence; parents provide the guidance. Thus, this does not violate the Constitution. Even if the Constitution explicitly forbade mentioning God in schools, it should be amended for the greater good of the nation. Statistics clearly show higher crime rates among individuals raised without awareness of the Creator.
3) How can a child be exposed to thoughts about the Creator when their parents object, infringing on the principle of freedom?
answer: The child is not forced to pray or follow a specific tradition. It is simply a moment of silence, and the school does not intervene in its content. Parents instruct their children on how to use this time. On the contrary, forbidding any mention of the Creator in schools deprives children of the opportunity to learn about Him. If they hear nothing about faith at school or home, they are denied access to this knowledge.
Some argue that such practices are better suited to synagogues than schools. It is unacceptable that children spend their school years accumulating knowledge about trivial matters and, at best, are trained to become doctors or lawyers, yet are not taught how to be moral individuals. Teaching them that there is a “watchful eye and listening ear” is fundamental.