The more the Rebbe spoke publicly of the effects of the mitzvah of tefillin, the more his listeners grew fired with enthusiasm. Not only students–older followers, as well, did what they could to promote the Rebbe’s campaign. From Israeli army bases to Manhattan offices they traveled all over, seeking out every Jewish male in need of this holy act.
The Avner Institute presents The following diary was written by Reb Zalmon Jaffe (1913-2000), who during his life was a prominent businessman in Manchester, UK. He describes his participation in the mitzvah tefillin which took place in New York City, on Erev Shavuos 5737 (1977).
In loving memory of of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
The Tefillin Campaign
The July 13, 1977 Jerusalem Post carried an article by Arthur Kemelman which included the following paragraphs:
“I have been in Israel for eight years now and, except when I was in the army, I have never once been approached by an Orthodox individual with any suggestions – other than to fulfill certain mitzvahs, such as laying tefillin at the Western Wall and at the bus station.
“Occasionally, a loudspeaker van enters our neighborhood to proclaim to my wife and to the other women that the time is approaching to light Shabbat candles. Others wanted to examine mezuzot.
“I know these are parts of the Lubavitcher mitzvah campaigns, but what are other religious Jews or organizations doing to spread Judaism?”
He is quite right: no one else seems to be doing much for the non-observant Jewish people. Incidentally, just near the Kotel (Western Wall) there is a huge billboard, about twenty-five square feet, with beautiful paintings of the Ten Mitzvah Campaigns. The wording is in Hebrew, English and French. On the main road to Tel Aviv, another large billboard by the roadside announces candle lighting time for that Shabbos.
So at least Lubavitch is making its presence felt and some good must come from all this activity.
However, no matter how laudable or splendid something is, there are detractors and critics. Out of criticism people often ask us: what is the benefit of one person laying tefillin just once? Our response to them is this: “Okay then, put on tefillin with many people many times!”
Nevertheless, it would behoove those detractors to bear in mind that the Jewish tradition refers most severely to a man who has not worn tefillin at least once in his lifetime. Wearing tefillin, even only once, permanently removes a person out of this harsh category.
Additionally, a mishna states that one mitzvah leads to another. If a person does a certain mitzvah only once, he will no doubt be attracted to do it, and to other mitzvoth. The [medieval legalist and philosopher] Rambam says we should regard good and evil in this world as equally balanced, so one more good deed, perhaps someone wearing tefillin, will tilt the scales bringing immediate redemption to the entire universe!
Finally, questioning the value of the tefillin campaign may have been valid at the earlier stages of this campaign (in 1967), but by now, we have firsthand knowledge of scores who have found their way to greater observance, as a direct result of our efforts in this and later campaigns.
So, detractors and naysayers have been eternally proven wrong! Everyone who has taken part in mitzvah tefillin has a story to relate:
A Jewish congressman declined to put on tefillin. His son was surprised and commented “You won’t put on tefillin and yet you insist that I only marry a Jewish girl!” The poor congressmen had no choice but to acquiesce.
Another gentleman accepted the offer with tears in his eyes. He admitted that he had never put on tefillin, had not even celebrated his bar mitzvah. Since then he has kept in contact for years. He subsequently bought a pair of tefillin for himself and has been putting them on every weekday.
Reb Mendel Futerfas visited a high security Army Base in Israel. A general stopped him and demanded to know what he was doing in the camp and by what right was he without an army escort!
Reb Mendel explained that he had come to lay tefillin on the soldiers.
“Welcome to our base then,” said the general. “Here, I will make a start,” and with that the general rolled up his sleeve and put on tefillin.
One New Yorker told me that at Hyde Park in London [popular gathering place for speakers and activists] he saw the Lubavitcher tefillin booth there. He was so thrilled that he immediately entered to take part in the mitzvah, just as he had done in New York.
A man, his wife and two children were passing the “Mitzvah Tank” when “Dad” was invited to enter. When he point-blank refused, his children refused to walk with him and his wife remarked that she was also terribly ashamed of him. Poor dad had no alternative but to enter the tank!
One young man who adamantly refused to put on tefillin said, “I am a student, thirty-three years old (nebech) and I have had ample time to contemplate and make up my own mind about religion (more nebech).”
Lately the Rebbe has been talking a lot about everyone getting involved in the Mitzvah Tanks. I informed the Rebbe that I planned to write about it in my next book, to which the Rebbe replied that the main thing was action, not writing. So . . . .
I Sign up for the Tank Corps
I had often heard about Tank Warfare, and I have even seen the Rebbe’s “tanks” leaving 770 on their “raiding missions.” I decided to enlist for Sunday, erev yom tov.
The tank, packed tightly with well-armed infantry, descended upon the unsuspecting population and commenced its mop-up operations by means of left-arm warfare aimed at the men. Women and girls were captured by candlelight. The objective was to secure the co-operation of the populace so the city could be taken over as soon as possible for Moshiach Tzidkeinu (our righteous Messiah).
Our tank was a very large type carrying thirty troops. At precisely 13:45, it drew up to a busy intersection on the East Side of the City. The troops immediately disgorged and fanned out in all directions. Males were captured and brought to the tank as hostages. They were only released after a short talk and taking part in “Exercise Tefillin,” and on the understanding that they would try and keep in contact with Yiddishkeit by means of a daily dose of tefillin.
Let me state at the outset that these boys of ours are really moser nefesh (self-sacrificing) for Yiddishkeit. I watched little Pinchas Lew (only seven and a half years old) holding a handful of brochures and approach young and not-so-young women with the question “Are you Dzuiss?” If they were not Jewish, he would wish them, “Have a good day!” I was surprised that Pinchas never got a punch in the eye.
His cousin, Menachem Mendel Feller (aged nine) was not so lucky; or maybe he was. He asked a gentleman whether he was Jewish and received a slap in the face for that question. That person was obviously Jewish, but definitely not a gentleman. Menachem Mendel was very proud of that slap.
Anyway, I thought it was easy. It looked easy. I took hold of a fellow’s arm and asked him to spare me thirty seconds of his time. He refused and tried to walk away, but he could not; I still held his arm. He gave me a ferocious look and tried to free himself. I held fast and pulled the other way. He got red in the face. He became purple, then white with anger and rage.
I tried to smile, to laugh it off as a joke. He was in no joking mood. He looked around for a cop, so I let go and quickly added, “Have a good day!”
My first success was with a man accompanied by his wife and son. Initially he refused to participate in putting on tefillin; at first many do. But, we had a pleasant chat, they had visited London, so we had something in common. I enumerated some of the wonderful benefits of wearing tefillin. It must have sounded so good because his wife prevailed upon him to have a try and, she added, “I too would like to try it out.”
As we left the tank, I told the fellow that if he felt only half as pleased as I did, then he feels marvelous. I remarked that if I had a camera, I would have liked to take a photograph of my “first success.”
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Thank you for sharing…super inspiring!