Mivtza Tefillin

Mivtza Tefillin is the first of The Ten Mivtzoim which the Rebbe announced in 1967 (5727).

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

The Rebbe called upon all Chabad Chassidim to help every Jew put on tefiliin every weekday.

Establishment of the Mivtza

On Shabbos Mevorchim of the Month of Sivan, parshas Bamidbar in the year 1927 (5727), a few days before the outbreak of the Six-Day War, a time when Jews were under great tension and in a stress - the Rebbe spoke at the farbrengen in the afternoon, and turned to the Chassidim with a call to go out to the "streets of the city" and help Jews with the Zechus of putting on tefillin, which is a mitzvah that is equivalent to the entire Torah and has a special merit for ensuring the victory of the Jewish nation in war.

Regarding the Mitzvah of tefillin, the Rebbe quoted the Gemara "whoever lays tefillin lengthens their days". Additionally, our sages of blessed memory said that the verse "And all the nations of the world will see that the name of Hashem is called upon you - and they will fear you" ("וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה' נקרא עליך - ויראו ממך") - this is referring to the tefillin of the head. Therefore, putting on tefillin is a merit for longevity and victory in war by instilling fear on the enemies. And for this reason it is the duty to help every Jew with this important mitzvah, especially the soldiers who are going to the battlefield.

In the days leading up to the war, the words of the Rebbe served as an encouragement to all the Jews around the world. He said that when Hakadosh Baruch Hu (G-d) conducts war, the enemy is completely nullified, and then the verse "Not one person will be missing" ("לא נפקד ממנו איש") is fulfilled - meaning all Jews remain complete.

As a result, immediately after Shabbos ended, this Sicha was published in Israel and the world, and the next day this big Mivtza began, encompassing the entire Jewish nation, from the young age of bar mitzvah.

Continuation of the Mivtza

After the victory of the war and the great miracles which occurred, Chabad Chassidim around the world continued with mivtza tefillin, with the encouragement of the Rebbe.

In the meantime there were those who asked the Rebbe why should this mivtza continue, after all, the war ended with a great victory? the Rebbe responded on the 15th of Teves 1928, that indeed the war ended with great victory, however there are still enemies standing at the border of Israel from all directions, intending to destroy the Jews r"l, only the fear and awe is what's holding them back. And there is another great danger that "From the north, it will open" etc. (referring to the threat from the northern border) G-d forbid, and this danger has grown since the war, however it is not the job of a Rebbe to get Jews scared - rather to awaken and encourage them that everything depends on Teshuvah and good deeds which every Jew is capable of doing, and specifically a mitzvah which instills fear and awe on the enemies like the mitzvah if tefillin.

To encourage the continuation of this mivtza - prominent leaders from Orthodox communities including Rebbes, Rabbis and the heads of Yeshivos, joined and signed a proclamation calling all frum Jews to take action, and join in the continuation of the mivtza.

Three years since the mivtza began, on Lag BaOmer 1970 (5730), the yearly parade took place in front of 770. The Rebbe delivered a sicha to thousands of children and adults who attended the parade, and he said: since we have seen that since Lag BaOmer three years ago, when it was spoken about the promise of Hakadosh Baruch Hu in his Torah that, "and I will give piece in the land" ("ונתתי שלום בארץ"), "you will dwell safely in your land ("וישבתם לבטח בארצכם"), and it was announced to add in the mitzvah of tefillin, which has saved thousands and tens of thousands of Jews who are alive and well to this day, and they will live long lives.

Expressions and Instructions

In a number places the Rebbe connects 'Mivtza Tefillin' with what it brought in the name of The Baal Shem Tov on the words of the gemara that in Hashem's tefillin it says "who is like your people, Israel, one nation in the land" ("מי כעמך כישראל גוי אחד בארץ"). There are two types of tefillin, tefillin of the hand and tefillin of the head. The tefillin of the head symbolize the Jews who study Torah in depth, while the hand tefillin symbolize the simple Jews whose service of Hashem is expressed especially in simple actions, and according Halacha we put on the hand tefillin first, being that the primary pleasure above comes from the service of Hashem from these simple Jews.

The Rebbe expressed about himself: "I am passionate about Mivtza Tefillin" ("קאָך איך זיך במבצע תפילין").

The reason why specifically the mitzvah of tefillin was chosen to be a "Mivtza", the Rebbe himself explained is because it is a "General Mitzvah" ("מצוה כללית"), like our sages say that "the entire Torah is compared to tefillin" ("הוקשה כל התורה כולה לתפילין"), and also it is one of the first mitzvos which our ancestors took upon themselves in Egypt.

Instructions

(Partial list)

• The Rebbe instructed that Yeshiva students should only go out on Mivtza Tefillin in their free time and not during Sedorim (Yeshiva hours), on the contrary the Rebbe expressed that someone who says otherwise is not only not my Shliach (emissary) rather he is acting against me and against my instruction and against the Rebbe Rayatz and against the Rebbe Rashab who founded Tomchei Temimim.
• To go out on mivtzoim only with a partner, not alone.
• To go with food and drink in order to give people so they can make a Brachah (blessing).
• Not to go in the first or last cart in the subway.

The Halachic Controversy Surrounding the Mivtza

After the announcement of the mivtza, there was opposition from various circles, primarily Charedim, through various ways both orally and in writing. For a long time the Rebbe refrained from addressing these claims, but after a half a year the Rebbe said he decided to respond to these claims. The first time the Rebbe publicly addressed these claims was at the farbrengen (gathering) on shabbos Bereshis 1928 (5728). The Rebbe said that these claims are very encouraging, because anything holy that is revealed in this world faces opposition, and if this wouldn't have happened, it would greatly worry him, he the went on to answer the questions.

Among other things the Rebbe emphasized that this mivtza is a fulfillment of the Mitzvah of Rebuke (תוכחה) by reminding a Jew to put on tefillin and encouraging him to observe it.

See Also

This page in Hebrew for additional resources