There’s a sense of electricity filling the air at Chabad schools around the world. Posters line the hallways, counting down the days until Yud Alef Nissan, and an army-wide report reminds chayolim how close they are to accomplishing their goal.
This Thursday over 1,500 local Tzivos Hashem soldiers will gather in front of 770 for a live rally in honor of the Rebbe’s birthday, with another 6,000 or so joining around the world via live broadcast. The program, sponsored by NCFJE, will feature a new segment of “A Quest for Oiz” series and end off with the highly-anticipated annual mitzva tank parade.
But no doubt that the climax of the day’s event will be the presentation of the Rebbe’s birthday gift. For many weeks now, Chayolim around the world have been working hard in every free moment to memorize lines of Mishnayos and Tanya Baal Peh for the Rebbe’s birthday. Together, Hashem’s army has a goal: 770,000 lines of Tanya and Mishnayos Baal Peh.
“It all started eight years ago,” says Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum, director of Chayolei Tzivos Hashem. Tzivos Hashem Headquarters began a campaign to give the Rebbe a birthday gift from his soldiers. “Our aim was to learn 11,000 lines of Tanya Baal Peh. We got close, but missed our target with 9,025 lines.”
Since then, the goals—and accomplishments—have continued to increase, along with the addition of Mishnayos Baal Peh Lines. In 5771, the army memorized a total of 218,000 lines in honor of the 110th birthday; 259,549 in honor of the 111th, 255,602 in honor of the 112th, 488,232 in honor of the 113th, 634,906 in honor of the 114th, and 705,475 lines of Tanya and Mishnayos Baal Peh in honor of the Rebbe’s 115th birthday last year.
“We’re connected with new Tzivos Hashem bases in France, Russia, Brazil, and Eretz Yisroel…all have joined the global effort,” says Chaya Illulian, campaign representative.
Today we are up to 254,248 lines of Mishnayos and 390,216 lines of Tanya, the result of a collective effort on behalf of 13,742 kids at 93 schools.
With only half the goal reached and seven days left, Weinbaum reminds, “In the army, ‘almost’ doesn’t count for anything. We have a mission to complete, and nothing is going to stop us!”
Now we turn to you. Parents and teachers, please encourage your children to memorize the extra lines that will make all the difference to the Rebbe.
Check out ourbirthdaygift.com for instant updates.
Join us this Thursday in front of 770 at 10:15a.m. EST, or join via live broadcast at chabad.org/rally.
