A Mitzvah tank is a vehicle used by the Orthodox Judaism practitioners of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidism as a portable "educational and outreach center" and "mini-synagogue" (or "minagogue") to reach out to non-observant and alienated . Mitzvah tanks have been commonplace on the streets of New York City since 1974.
Terminology
The word
Mitzvah means a "commandment" of the
Torah in
Judaism, but also carries with it the connotation of a good deed. Lubavitchers use these
vehicles to spread the teachings of Judaism to the Jewish masses in "
military fashion" in which "campaigns" and
are fought, hence naming the vans and trucks "
".
The strategy behind the Mitzvah tank "campaigns" was designed and encouraged by the seventh rebbe of Chabad Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson .
Appearance and description
Mitzvah tanks can be
,
, recreational vehicles,
campervan or
.
On
Sukkot, vehicles may be fitted with a portable Sukkah (the
Sukkah-mobile). Mitzvah tanks are put into operation on the eve of major
and Fridays prior to
Shabbat. The vehicles often have large banners or logos on them, extolling some aspect of Judaism or displaying images of Rabbi Schneerson and about Moshiach's imminent arrival. Some Mitzvah Tanks have external speakers attached which are used to play
klezmer-style music.
The tanks, usually manned by young male Lubavitch students in the Yeshiva of
Tomchei Temimim, park in areas with heavy people-traffic and seek Jews to perform
Mitzvahs by asking passers-by: "Are you Jewish?"
Purpose
Lubavitchers manning the tank will usually hand out brochures or cards with information about performing
mitzvot and about the coming of
Moshiach. They encourage passersby to perform
mitzvot with an emphasis on those part of the Chabad mitzvah campaigns, and assist those who are willing to perform religious rituals, such as the putting on of
Tefillin (phylacteries) with men and boys over
Bar Mitzvah, and hand out candles and candle-lighting information to women and girls to light in honor of the
Shabbat. In addition, during the holiday of
Chanukah many Menorahs with candles are given out allowing people to bring the light of
Chanukah into their own home, all in bringing the ultimate
Moshiach closer. Some Mitzvah Tanks have traditional foods, like doughnuts, on board during that holiday as well.
External links
