Mivtza Tefillin: Part 2

00:00 The hemshech in continuation to the earlier installment regarding Miftzat Tehillim, we continue now with installment number two, discussing additional aspects which followed in the war and after the war in June 1967. On the 26th of Iyar, the war broke out and was concluded in six days. Am Yisrael, with Hashem's help, had won a miraculous and a triumphant victory recorded in history as the Six-Day War. The war ended on the 2nd of Sivan, a few days before Shavuos. At the Shavuos fabringen, the Rebbe continued speaking about the Tehillim campaign, the activities, and urged that they be continued. On that occasion, the Rebbe answered inquiries and questions relating to the Miftzat Tehillim, different aspects of the Miftza. The Rebbe also mentioned that Tehillim gives a Yid spiritual strength and in this way contributes to the success in war against the enemy. The Torah tells us that when waging war with the enemy, a person should not have a fearful heart. Therefore, the Rebbe says, by putting on Tehillim, a Yid will not fear the enemy. At that fabringen, a Yid made l'chaim to the Rebbe and called out that the Yidden in Eretz Yisrael should have a Yeshua, a liberation. The Rebbe responded, "If you put on Tehillim with one Yid, you will accomplish more than with all these proclamations." From the Rebbe's sichas at the Shavuos fabringen, it was clear that the Tehillim campaign would not end with the Six-Day War. On the contrary, it was just the beginning for the Tehillim campaign and eventually of

02:08 the 10-point Mitzvah campaign which the Rebbe initiated in the following years. A short time after the war, the Rebbe advised that a permanent Tehillim booth should be established at the Kehilat HaMaravi, the Western Wall, for the Tehillim campaign. The Rebbe added that brochures containing the blessings for Tehillim and the Shema should be printed and distributed, and authentic Tehillim should also be available for sale at a minimum price. A short time later, the Rebbe elaborated on the details of his directives. A brochure on the significance of putting on Tehillim should be distributed containing, there should also be siddurim, tehillims, tanyas, and yarmulkes available. The Tehillim needed to be checked to ensure that they were genuinely kosher. The skins from which the Tehillim were processed should be strong ones because at times the Tehillim would be laying for hours under the open sky and the hot sun. A while after the war ended, the Rebbe again spoke about the Tehillim campaign, saying, "The Tehillim campaign should continue in full force because there is still a need for the campaign in order to maintain the security of Am Yisrael and the nations should fear them." A short time had elapsed since the war, and in Eretz Yisrael alone, tens of thousands of Yidden had already put on Tehillim. Many of them never put on Tehillim in their life. Amongst them, of those who put on Tehillim in that time period were public figures and officials with high positions in the government and military who had put on Tehillim

04:13 in public. In the months which followed the war, people inquired the Rebbe as to the sources and halachic aspects of this miftzah. The Rebbe responded to the inquirers and gave a background of this campaign, citing the sources in the Talmud, in the Code of the Jewish Law, and additional areas in Torah. Likewise, the Rebbe addressed some of the questions in public and later edited his talk. One of the sichas is included in Likutei Sichos, Volume 6, page 271. The Rebbe viewed this campaign as something that had a very positive impact on Yidden. He saw the Tehillim not only important in their own right, but as a means to lead Yidden to a full commitment to Torah and mitzvahs. The Tehillim campaign was to be an instrument in bringing Yidden to teshuva. The Rebbe alludes to these thoughts in a letter that he sent to General Ariel Sharon. General Sharon's son had died in a very tragic accident shortly after the war. In his letter of condolence, the Rebbe wrote, "The great awakening that you have caused in the hearts of many Yidden by putting on Tehillim near the Kehilot. This has been publicized and was met positively in many different segments of the Jewish nation from near and far." Unquote. The Rebbe wanted the donning of Tehillim to lead to further observance During the Tefillin campaign, an elderly Yid sick in the hospital was approached by a Hasid who asked him to put on Tefillin. The man refused. In a short time, his health degenerated

06:17 and he became disoriented. The Hasid still kept on visiting him. One day, this elderly man stretched out his arm to the Hasid and the Hasid put on Tefillin with him. The man passed away the next day. Very interesting story that tells us that this Yid grabbed onto a basic mitzvah before he left this world. The Hasid wrote about this unusual experience to the Rebbe. The Rebbe responded that someone should be appointed to say Kaddish and to learn Mishnayis for the person's neshamah. The Rebbe himself participated in this mitzvah by sending a contribution of $50. The Rebbe also instructed that the deceased's relatives should be gathered together and to ask them to put on Tefillin and to observe kashrus. Throughout the time period of the Tefillin campaign, it seemed obvious that all aspects of Torah mitzvahs were being channeled through the mitzvah of Tefillin. Tefillin were the means to draw down blessings from above. The Rebbe would link all activities to Tefillin. He wanted each and every occasion to be utilized for mitzvah Tefillin. A group of bachurim who were planning to travel to their friend's wedding in Canada notified the Rebbe about their trip. To their surprise, the Rebbe responded with a list of directives. The Rebbe wrote, quote, Surely they will spread throughout the city, visiting yeshivas, shuls, rosh yeshivas, and rabbonim with the intention to discuss with them nigleh, the revealed part of Torah, and in the appropriate places also chasidus, relating to the mitzvah of Tefillin in the days of Elul. And

08:12 everyone should participate in at least one of these activities, and better yet, in many of the activities. Hashem should help them with success and that they should have good news. Unquote, as it was translated from the original Hebrew text.