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The Rebbe
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== His Work and Influence == ==== Activities in the Jewish World ==== ''Extended article - [[The Ten Mivtzoim|The Ten Mivtzoyim]]'' After ascending to the Nesius (leadership), the Rebbe began leading campaigns to publicize Jewish mitzvos and Chassidic teachings under the banner of "Ufaratzta" (And you shall spread forth), taken from the possuk "Ufaratzta yama vakeidma v'tzafona v'negba" [westward, eastward, northward and southward]. Within this framework, the Rebbe called upon his Chassidim to influence wherever possible, to fulfill mitzvos and study Torah, among other things, by going out to public places and meriting the public with these mitzvos. The Rebbe also called for financial assistance to those who couldn't afford tashmishei mitzvah (ritual items). Later, he initiated public activities that he termed 'Mivtzoyim' (campaigns). Some of the Mivtzoyim are connected to Yom Tov observances and are seasonal, for example lighting Chanukah menoros in homes, stores and city centers, Lag BaOmer parades, helping Yidden shake lulav on Sukkos, distributing handmade shmurah matzah before Pesach, blowing shofar on Rosh Hashanah, arranging for those who don't attend shul to hear the Aseres HaDibros (Ten Commandments) on Shavuos, fulfilling the four mitzvos of [[Purim]], and more. The Rebbe frequently emphasized the great importance of performing practical mitzvos, even just once, and even when the mitzvah is done without understanding its deeper meaning. Another project the Rebbe initiated, called 'The Ten Mivtzoyim', was a call for every Yid to fulfill ten mitzvos that he saw as central, and to influence other Yidden to fulfill them, which include: * [[Mivtza Ahavas Yisroel|Ahavas Yisroel]] (love of fellow Jews) * [[Mivtza Chinuch|Chinuch]] (Jewish education) * Torah study * Tefillin * Mezuzah * [[Mivtza Kashrus|Kashrus]] * Tzedakah * Having holy seforim in the home * Neiros Shabbos Kodesh and Yom Tov candle lighting * Taharas HaMishpacha (family purity) Following his call, Chabad Chassidim set up tefillin stands in city streets offering passersby the opportunity to perform this mitzvah. N'shei uBnos Chabad (Chabad women and girls) are active in distributing Shabbos candles and explanatory pamphlets about the mitzvah to women and girls. Additionally, Chabad Houses offer mezuzah installation and checking services, and kitchen kashering for all who are interested. In this period following his acceptance of the Nesius, the Rebbe established in Eretz HaKodesh: * Tzeirei Agudas Chabad organization * The Oholei Yosef Yitzchak network * N'shei Chabad organization He instituted structural and organizational changes with new general and specific horaos (directives) in Agudas Chassidei Chabad, positioning it as an umbrella organization for all Chabad mosdos in Eretz HaKodesh. This was alongside assistance to Colel Chabad which provided support to Chassidim in gashmius matters. In the United States, the Rebbe established: * Tzeirei Agudas Chabad in New York * N'shei Chabad organization Simultaneously, he strengthened and developed the organizations he had managed until then: * Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch * Machne Israel * Kehot Publication Society In parallel, the Rebbe sent shluchim to various states across America, and to additional countries such as Australia, Brazil, and Morocco. In these locations, educational institutions and Chabad organizations were established, alongside activities to bring Yidden closer to Yiddishkeit and Chassidus, tailored to the conditions of each local Jewish community. In Morocco, the Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch (Morocco) network of institutions was established. Concurrently, the Rebbe worked extensively for Kfar Chabad both b'gashmius and b'ruchnius, from specific instructions in all areas of life, concern for expanding the mosdos, establishing enterprises and material welfare, to matters of tznius, chinuch, and activities for hafatzas hamaayanos. ==== The Shlichus Enterprise ==== ''Extended article - Chabad House'' The Rebbe's father-in-law, the Frierdiker (Previous) Rebbe, worked to bring Yidden closer to Torah and mitzvos, and sent shluchim to various countries. However, during his time the scope of activity was relatively limited, and the Rebbe expanded it on an enormous scale, until today the number of shluchim reaches about two thousand spread throughout the world. The first shluchim were sent to Morocco in the early years of the Rebbe's nesius, including: Rabbi Michel Lipsker, Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, and Rabbi Nissan Pinson. Simultaneously, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chitrik was sent as a shliach to Brazil, and many shluchim were sent throughout the United States. Under the Rebbe's leadership, the concept of shlichus became a central requirement from Chabad Chassidim in particular, and from every Jew in general, to leave their place and dedicate themselves to spreading Yiddishkeit and Chassidus in places that needed it. As part of this requirement, the Rebbe established the shlichus enterprise, appointing his Chassidim as shluchim in every location and establishing Chabad Houses worldwide that provide both gashmius (material) and ruchnius (spiritual) assistance to every Jew. Over the years, the shlichus enterprise expanded, and today it encompasses almost every city and settlement in the world where Jews are found, numbering over 6,000 shluchim, including 1,700 shluchim in Eretz Yisroel. ==== The Daily Rambam Study Initiative ==== ''Extended article - The Daily Rambam Study Takana'' In 5744 (1984), the Rebbe initiated the daily [[The Rambam|Rambam]] study project, in which the Rambam's halachic works were divided into daily study portions. One of the takana's objectives was to encourage concise study of all areas of halacha in a clear and illuminating way, as they are formulated in the Rambam's seforim. There are three study tracks: * Three chapters per day, completing the entire Yad HaChazaka in one year * One chapter per day, completing the series once in three years * Study of Sefer HaMitzvos, completed once a year At one farbrengen in 5744, which was actually a continuation of the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen that fell that year on Friday, the Rebbe mentioned and aroused that the time had come to arrange a division similar to the division of Shas in studying the Rambam's Mishneh Torah. The directive wasn't immediately implemented, but the talmidim hashluchim at the Chabad yeshiva in Casablanca, Morocco, where the Rambam had lived for several years, who learned this sicha, divided the entire Mishneh Torah among the Torah community in Morocco, to be learned between Yud Shevat (the day of accepting the nesius) and the Rebbe's birthday on Yud-Alef Nissan and the Rambam's birthday on Yud-Daled Nissan. The talmidim hashluchim themselves took "Hilchos Shluchin V'Shutfin" in connection with their role as the Rebbe's shluchim, and Reb Shlomo Matusof, the head shliach and yeshiva director, gave them a shiur in these halachos. ==== The Seven Noahide Laws ==== ''Extended article - The Seven Noahide Laws'' Starting in the 1980s, the Rebbe called for action to instill the Sheva Mitzvos B'nei Noach (Seven Noahide Laws) to all of humanity, encouraging all people to observe them, based on the Rambam's ruling that there is an obligation on the Jewish people to ensure that the nations of the world fulfill the Seven Noahide Laws. In his view, the notable lack of engagement with this topic in previous generations stemmed from concern that such activity would be perceived as an attempt to interfere with the gentiles' religion, a concern that barely exists today, and therefore the Jewish obligation to transmit the Seven Mitzvos remains in full force. The Rebbe saw influencing the nations of the world to observe the Seven Mitzvos as part of the preparation process for the Geulah (Redemption), when all of humanity will fulfill the mitzvos incumbent upon them, and the beginning of his function as Melech HaMoshiach in tikun olam (rectifying the world). Following his initiative and his Chassidim's activities on the matter, the United States Congress declared the importance of the Seven Noahide Laws as the foundation of modern social morality. ==== Education in the American Congress ==== ''Extended article - Education Day USA'' In the year 5738 (1978), the United States Congress decided to declare the 11th of Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday, as "Education and Sharing Day," during which efforts and resources would be increased to improve education in all educational institutions for all ages throughout the United States. In the text of the proposal submitted by Congress for ratification by then-President Jimmy Carter, the seven Noahide laws are mentioned as a model for the moral principles upon which human civilization rests. Since this legislation, the United States' "Education and Sharing Day" has been proclaimed each year by the sitting President on the day corresponding to the Hebrew date of 11 Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday. The Rebbe expressed his gratitude for the decision of Congress and explained in a farbrengen the significance of establishing this day as "Education Day":<blockquote>The government declared a certain day (11 Nissan) as "Education Day" throughout the United States. Everything must have a source in Torah. And seemingly - where is the source for this matter, to connect an essential and important matter with a special day of the year? Especially the matter of education, which is an ongoing and constant matter at every moment. The answer to this is: The obligation to accept the yoke of Heaven is constant at every moment, and nevertheless a special day of the year was established for this - Rosh Hashanah; we are obligated to mention the Exodus from Egypt every day, during the day and at night, and together with this a special day of the year was established, the holiday of Pesach, as the "time of our freedom"; the obligation to study Torah is at every free moment, and nevertheless they established a special day of the year, the holiday of Shavuot, as a day of renewed awakening regarding everything connected to receiving the Torah and studying it. And here, in this matter we see how the world is getting closer to the coming of Moshiach. For in the future, the promise will be fulfilled "Then I will transform the peoples to a clear language... to serve Him with one consent," one of the aspects of this being that a mighty kingdom, a "superpower," which has influence throughout the entire world, has publicly declared for all to see the greatness of the importance and vitality of the matter of education. β From the talk of 11 Nissan 5738 - notes of the listeners</blockquote>Additionally, in New York State, numerous "Education Days" are proclaimed each year before the 11th of Nissan, corresponding to the number of years of the Rebbe's life. The declaration is delivered by the Governor of New York State, the two legislative houses, the Assembly and the Senate, in a special ceremony conducted by Rabbi Shmuel Butman. ==== A Moment of Silence ==== ''Extended article - [[A Moment of Silence|Moment of Silence]]'' In 5743 (1983), the Rebbe called for implementing a 'Moment of Silence' in schools worldwide at the beginning of the day, during which students would contemplate for 60 seconds about the Creator of the world, in light of the fact that without recognition of the Creator, there is no guarantee for preserving the fundamental laws that protect human society. His call met with opposition in the [[The United States|United States,]] where it was claimed that it contradicted the principle of separation of church and state enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. The Rebbe explained that the principle of separation of church and state was established to allow religious freedom, and this principle requires allowing parents to educate their children about belief in Hashem even in public schools. The Rebbe further emphasized that the school should not interfere with the content of the child's contemplation, and therefore his proposal does not contradict the separation of church and state. Following the Rebbe's call, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation to implement the 'Moment of Silence' in schools across the United States. ==== Activities by Year ==== * 5710 (1950): Establishment of the emissary project in Morocco. Sent first emissaries to Morocco: Rabbi Michael Lipsker and Rabbi Shlomo Matusof. * 5711 (1951): The Rebbe accepts leadership. Sends Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chitrik to Brazil. * 5712: Established "Tzeirei Agudas Chabad" and "N'shei U'Bnos Chabad" * 5714: First launched the Arbah Minim campaign and Matzah campaign * 5718: During the 12 Tammuz gathering, the Rebbe called for action in the manner of "Ufaratzta" (spreading forth) * 5724: Began activities for Russian Jewry * 5729: Founded Nachalat Har Chabad neighborhood in Kiryat Malachi for immigrants * 5727: On [[Lag BaOmer]], shortly before the Six-Day War, established the Tefillin campaign * 5739: Strongly opposed the Camp David Accords regarding giving up the Sinai Peninsula * 5730: Launched campaign regarding the "Who is a Jew" law * 5740: Established worldwide Lag BaOmer parades * 5741: Established Tzivos Hashem organization * 5751: Delivered talk demanding Chassidim "do all you can" to bring Moshiach * 5753: Began encouraging the declaration "Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L'olam Va'ed"
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