The Ten Mivtzoim
The Ten Mivtzoim are ten commandments that the Rebbe chose to emphasize and promote in order to awaken the people. This is the reason the name 'Mivtza' (campaign) was chosen, indicating a departure from routine.
| The Rebbe's Mivtzoim |
|---|
| The Ten Mivtzoim |
| Tefillin · Torah · Mezuzah · Tzedakah · Bayis Molei Seforim · NeSHeK · Kashrus · Taharas Hamishpacha · Chinuch · Ahavas Yisroel |
| Various Mivtzoim |
| Mesibos Shabbos · Shofar · Lulav · Chanukah · Purim · Matzah · והשיב לב אבות על בנים · Lag BaOmer · Aseres Hadibros · אות בספר התורה לילדי ישראל · Ois B'sefer Torah Haklali . אות בספר תורה לחיילי צה"ל · Hakhel · Moshiach · Yom Huledes · הקהלת קהילות · הדפסת התניא · עידוד הילודה |
Background
From the very beginning of his leadership, the Rebbe passionately engaged in spreading Judaism and the wellsprings of Chassidus, inscribing the motto 'Ufaratzta' on his banner.
In continuation of this, the Rebbe initiated these special 'Mivtzoim' (campaigns) to awaken Jews to perform practical commandments, being that 'one mitzvah leads to another mitzvah,' as a result of the great awakening that the Rebbe inspired.
These campaigns were carefully chosen by him, being 'general commandments' that should be observed with greater meticulousness and urgency than any other commandment, because the observance of these commandments by every Jew is more relevant to each individual Jew and to the entire Jewish people as a whole.
In one of the letters, the Rebbe connected the Ten Campaigns with what is written in Seforim, that the second letters of the names of the patriarchs Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov (אברהם יצחק ויעקב) spell 'בצע,' which is related to the Ten Campaigns. The Rebbe explained that the main focus of these campaigns is the practical aspect, as it matches the root 'בצע,' which signifies conclusion and completion[1].
Stages of Foundation
The first campaign was 'Mivtza Tefillin,' which the Rebbe announced prior to the Six-Day War in 1967 (5727), as a spiritual merit for the salvation of the Jews in the Holy Land.
In the year 1971 (5731), the Rebbe announced 'Mivtza Torah.'
In the year 1974 (5734), the Rebbe announced the campaigns: 'Mivtza Mezuzah,' 'Mivtza Tzedakah,' 'Mivtza Bayis Molei Seforim,' 'Mivtza Neiros Shabbos Kodesh,'
In the year 1975 (5735), the Rebbe announced the campaigns: 'Mivtza Kashrus,' 'Mivtza Taharas Hamishpacha.'
In the year 1976 (5736), the Rebbe announced the campaigns: 'Mivtza Chinuch,' 'Mivtza Ahavas Yisroel and Achdus Yisroel.'
From then until the mid-'80s, in most gatherings, the Rebbe listed the Ten Mivtzoim. Later, the Mivtza of 'Ois B'sefer Torah' was also added.
Defense and Rescue Mivtzoim
In the year 1974 (5734), the 'Tzaddik from Ra'anana,' Rabbi Yitzchak Huberman, expressed that there would be bloodshed in Israel that year, when the year passed and nothing happened, he was asked to explain this, and he replied that, indeed he saw that this year was supposed to be very difficult for the Jewish nation, but in the merit of the Mivtzoim of the Rebbe which were announced throughout the year, the decree was annulled, and the bloodshed 'moved' to Cyprus, where a fierce war broke out following the Turkish army's invasion. The Rebbe, in his talks and letters, connected the campaigns themselves to protection and salvation, based on the teachings of our sages (רז"ל).
- Mivtza Torah - Torah saves and protects[2] (תורה מגנא ומצלא).
- Mivtza Tefillin - Tefillin cause the nations of the world to fear the Jewish people as it says: "and they will fear you"[3] (ויראו ממך).
- Mivtza Mezuzah - A mezuzah ensures that "Hashem will guard your going out and your coming in from now and for all time," ("השם ישמור צאתך ובואך מעתה ועד עולם") and it is the custom to inscribe the name 'ש-ד-י' on the Mezuzah which stands for "שומר דלתות ישראל".
- Mivtza Tzedakah - Charity increases protection, as the promise of Hashem just as you give life to the poor so too Hashem will give life to you [4].
- Mivtza Bayis Molei Seforim - Just as a Mezuzah protects the home so too does a house full of Seforim - and in the broader sense, the essence of the house transforms into a house of Torah - making it a house which is more guarded and protected [5].
- Mivtza Sefer Torah Haklali - It is not one of the Ten Mivtzoim but it does provide protection, defense, and success to someone which has a letter in this Sefer Torah.
Additional Mivtzoim
Even before these Mivtzoim started the made sure that yidden would be able to fulfill mitzvos of various yomim tovim, however this of course increased with greater enthusiasm afterward.
These mivtzoim include "Mivtza Shofar", "Mivtza Matzah", "Mivtza Lulav", "Mivtza Purim", and "Mivtza Chanukah".
After these ten mivtoim were established, the Rebbe added over the years the mivtzoim: "Shleimus Ha’aretz" "Mihu Yehudi" "Moment of Silence" "The 7 Noahide Laws" "Ois B'sefer Torah" "Hakhel" "Yom Huledes".
These Mivtzoim reached the public through the Rebbe's Shluchim (emissaries) in every place.
Mivtza Moshiach
In the year 5752, in the Sicha at the International Conference of Shluchim the Rebbe said that the gateway to all matters of Shlichus is "to welcome Moshiach tzidkeinu" ("קבלת פני משיח צדקנו") and therefore all matters of Shlichus must be permeated with this idea.