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A Mitzvah tank is a large vehicle, usually a big van, travel trailer, recreational vehicle or campervan, sometimes even a pickup truck with a Sukkah on it, that is utilized by the Orthodox Jewish practitioners of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidism as portable "educational and outreach centers" and "mini-synagogues", or when carrying a Sukkah as "Sukkah-mobiles", to reach out to non-observant and alienated Jews in high-density population areas where the Lubavitchers seek to promote the practice of traditional Judaism by Jews.
Mitzvah tanks have been commonplace on the streets of New York City since 1974. Today they are found all over the globe, where the Lubavitch movement is active.
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Terminology
The word Mitzvah means a "commandment" of the Torah in Orthodox 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 battles are fought, hence the naming of the vans and trucks as "tanks".
The strategy behind the Mitzvah tank "campaigns" was designed and encouraged by the seventh rebbe of Chabad Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994).
Appearance and description
Mitzvah tanks are usually seen on the eve of major Jewish holidays, or on Fridays prior to Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath). The vehicles often have large banners on them extolling some aspect of Judaism or something about Rabbi Schneerson. 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. They will also assist those who are willing to perform religious rituals, such as the putting on of Tefillin (phylacteries) with men and boys, or provide the materials to do so, such as handing out candles and candle-lighting times to women and girls to light for Shabbat. They believe that the completion of enough mitzvot will bring the Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah), and view the Mitzvah tanks as a way of hastening this process.
External links
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