12 Mitzvah Tanks Bring Judaism to Streets of Melbourne

By Yoss Rosenbaum, Zalman Szmerling and Mendel Cyrulnick

While the rest of the world was occupied with preparing their tanks for the ‘Yud Alef Nissan Parade,’ Melbourne, Australia were already driving through town handing out Matzos and Neshek (Ner Shel Shabbos kadosh) to all the Jews found there.

With music blasting and many bochurim in the 12 tanks – one more than the annual Yud Alef Nissan Parade – a big Kiddush Hashem was made in the streets of Melbourne with hundreds of matzos given out and a lot of joy brought to the streets.

Once the tanks finished circling the area they reached Kimberly, the 770 replica in Melbourne (and the most accurate replica in the world), to take a group photo of all the bochurim and drives after that they all went on to their Mivtzoyim destination to continue spreading the exiting Mazel Tov of the glorious, holy Rebbe turning 120. This was displayed via the distribution of 450 Matzos and about 100 Shabbos candles.

Following all this, there was also a beautiful carnival accompanied by kids making Hachlotos Tovos in order to enter a raffle for $120 voucher in a shop of their choice or for $220 to buy Seforim. Also to enter into each ride you had to do a mission such as say the 12 pesukim or some Mishnayos by heart.

This was also the first time a Tzivos Hashem rally was outside in Melbourne with close to 500 people. The rally started with everyone washing for a seudah in honor of the Rebbe’s 120th birthday, followed by the singing of niggunim and then a rally.

We would like to thank the kind sponsors: Abe Wolf, Almost Friday, Spigler family, Nagel family, Josh and Robyn Goldhircsh and Family along with the A&I Tartarka family Foundation and a special thanks to vaad Habochurim Melbourne for organizing the parade and a special thanks to Chabad youth for organizing the carnival and rally.