The Children (Part 5): Tzivos Hashem

00:00 Behemsach, in reference to the earlier installments, we continue now with installment number five, discussing the Mivtza, the campaign, Veheiv Lev Aves Al Bonim. Return the hearts of fathers through children, or as the short title is Tzivas Hashem. In this installment, we will relate an exclusive. The Rebbe's Hakafes with the children on the evening of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Teyre, Tov Shin Mem Alef, late 1980, as told by the monthly journal, The Chidish Hada'er. Ahead of the fifth Hakafa, this is the first night of Shemini Atzeres, the Rebbe conveyed something to one of his secretaries, Rabbi Groner. Upon receiving the message, Rabbi Groner rushed to the Gabbai, who then announced the Rebbe's instruction. The children of Tzivas Hashem, those who learn Eshes Hateira, the letters of Teyre, then Chamish L'Mikra, those that study Chumash, and Vanessa L'Mishnah, those that study Mishnahs, will be honored with this Hakafa. Their teachers should circle together with them, and they should hold the Teyres. And the Maniam immediately ensued. Children of all ages were being passed overheads from all corners of the shul. All made it in one place, although some children who didn't understand what was going on were in tears. The Melamdim, the teachers, received Teyres, while the Rebbe took his small Sefer Teyre. On the way to the center of the shul, the Rebbe asked several individuals if they were teachers of children under Bar Mitzvah. Those who answered in the negative were told to clear the space for the children. Upon reaching the Ches, which is

02:09 referred to the area where the Rebbe would go for Hakafes, it's referred to as a Ches because it was walled from three sides, the Rebbe noticed several people and instructed them to leave the Hakafes area. Some fathers asked if they could remain with their young children, and the Rebbe agreed. Are you one of the children? The Rebbe asked one bachar, young student, who was still standing there. Are you part of the Va'adam Esader, making order here? The Rebbe told him to leave the space. The Rebbe requested for the Nigun Utzu Etzer to be sung and proceeded to dance in a circle surrounded by the throng of children. The crush was great. With one hand, the Rebbe clutched the Teyre while he encouraged the singing with the other, energetically swinging it above the head. The Hakafes lasted 10 minutes. When heading back to his place at the Hakafes conclusion, the Rebbe instructed that Moshiach Sefer Teyre be taken up to the women's section for the girls to kiss it. The Gabbai asked whom he should send, to which the Rebbe replied, a strong person. Moshiach Sefer Teyre is a big, heavy Sefer Teyre. Moshiach Sefer Teyre was brought to the Ezras Nashim, to the women's section, while the rest were returned, all the Sefer Teyres returned to the Oren Teydes. The Rebbe sat down in his place and asked to hold the Hakafes until Moshiach Sefer Teyre returned. At that point, tens of children were standing on the Rebbe's Bima platform, and the Rebbe began singing

03:58 Utzu Etzer, clapping along with them. Shortly after, the Rebbe began singing the Nigun Vesamachta and further propelled the children. During the singing, the Rebbe called for Rabbi Groner and instructed that Moshiach Sefer Teyre be brought to the other women's section as well. After being brought there, the Teyre returned to the shul. Upon seeing it, the Rebbe stood up and clapped energetically. And now we go on to the second evening, the evening of Simchas Teyre. Before the fourth Hakafes, the Rebbe once again discussed a children's Hakafes with Rabbi Groner. The Rebbe originally wanted it to be during the fourth Hakafes, but ultimately decided that it would be better during the fifth, as in the previous evening. When the children's Hakafes was announced, chaos broke out once again. Tonight, everyone knew to bring their children, exponentially increasing the crowd. The Ches was jam-packed. This is the area where the Rebbe would dance Hakafes. Additional children sitting on the enclosing tables as well as behind them with the rest of the crowd. The crowd waited for about 20 minutes, hoping that some Seder would be enacted, but to no avail. Eventually, the Rebbe took the Sefer Teyre and headed to the Hakafes area. Before entering the Ches, the Rebbe had to stop because the path was totally congested. Rabbi Groner attempted to clear a passage, but was not successful. Upon seeing this, the Rebbe began making a seder. First he instructed all the melamdim to leave the area. Those holding teras were told to stand on the kriya

06:13 satira bimah, separate platform. The children standing on the tables were instructed to get down and join the hakafa. Despite all this, the squeeze was terrible. The Rebbe instructed everyone standing in front of the southern table to clear the place. Many people generally gather in this space, but it was not long before it was absolutely cleared. The children without a spot were moved there. The Rebbe single-handedly made a seder, instructing people to move outside the ches. To one person the Rebbe said, with all due respect, you do not belong here. The Rebbe also cleared the area behind the western table, and those standing near the northern table took their cue and cleared the area as well. Children were then put around all the tables, and still there was a great crush in the ches. Nevertheless, the Rebbe finally proceeded with the hakafa. The Rebbe began singing the nigun mitzvot eicha, and everyone joined the spirited song. While holding the tade in one hand, the Rebbe encouraged the singing with the other. Every so often, when the Rebbe brought the sefer tade down closer to the children's height, every so often the Rebbe brought the sefer tade down closer to the children's height for them to kiss it. The Rebbe danced in a circle near the tables, sporadically signaling children to let him pass. The hakafa lasted ten minutes, after which the Rebbe again asked that Moshiach sefer tade be brought upstairs for the girls. When the Rebbe returned to his place, he sat down and began

08:18 singing the nigun mitzvot eicha. Several children were zecha, merited to have the Rebbe tell them a few words. Others received the Rebbe's hand together with a gut yom tov, while a few got wine for l'chaim. We will, mitzvah, continue with the next installment.