61 Mitzvah Tanks Parade NYC

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Baruch Ezagui

New Yorkers and tourists heading out for lunch on Thursday, April 14, were greeted by an unexpected surprise – “Chabad’s army tanks.”

A parade, consisting of 61 motor homes, known as “Mitzvah Mobiles,” rolled through the streets of Manhattan, to raise awareness of the upcoming Passover holiday.

It was organized by Mitzvah Tank Organization under the auspices of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in honor of Yud Aleph Nissan, the Rebbe‘s birthday.

The Mitzvah Mobiles traveled throughout the New York metropolitan area, inviting men, women and children to come aboard to learn more about the Passover holiday and receive Shmura Matzah.

The effort is also part of a global campaign by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement to increase Passover awareness and participation.

Over 4 million hand-baked Shmurah Matzahs will be distributed by Chabad this year. In addition, millions of Passover guides in 17 languages will educate people on the meaning and practices of the holiday.

“The Rebbe taught us that we must share what we know and have with others, who may not have had the opportunities as we have had in learning and experiencing the holiday,” said the organizer Rabbi Mordy Hirsch.

“As Chabad emissaries across the globe will be working feverishly to provide Jews with matzahs, holiday guides and organizing public Passover seders, we will be covering NYC with Mitzvah Mobiles distributing Passover provisions and teaching about the holiday.”

The parade left from from Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, at 10:30 AM and headed to the Manhattan Bridge, on Sixth Avenue to 59th Street and down Fifth Ave to. 24th St.

After the parade, each Mitzvah Mobile went to its designated location inviting people of all ages, and from all walks of life aboard, giving them the opportunity to do a mitzvah on the spot.