65 ‘Tanks’ Bring Pesach to NYC

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Baruch Ezagui
Video by Itzik Roytman

65 Mitzvah Tanks drove from Brooklyn to Manhattan on Tuesday, honoring the 113th anniversary of the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, pioneer of global Jewish outreach.

The Annual Pre-Passover Mitzvah Tank parade consisted of converted motor homes and their crews of rabbinical students traveled throughout the NYC metropolitan area, encouraging people to increase in acts of goodness and kindness.

It departed from Lubavitch World headquarters in Crown Heights and crossed the Manhattan Bridge, north on 6th Avenue until 59th Street. Accompanied by the NYPD, it then continued south on 5th Ave until 23rd St.

The signs and chassidic music caught the attention of scores of men, women and children who were invited to come on board and do a mitzvah, a good deed to bring more holiness, goodness and kindness into the world.

‘Tanks’ were equipped with Passover needs for the upcoming holiday, including hand-baked Shmura Matzah. People also had the opportunity to don the Tefillin and pray, receive Shabbat candles and inspirational literature for Jews and non-Jews.

Following the parade they will disperse to various locations throughout the city spreading the message of Passover to the Jews of New York.

“A Mitzvah Tank Parade is most appropriate to celebrate the Rebbe’s birthday,” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Chairman of Mitzvah Tanks, and Director Lubavitch Youth Organization.

“As the Mitzvah Tanks, same as the tanks in the army, bridge the gaps and form a connection and unity. This is exactly the work of the Rebbe – to bring about a connection and unity between man and G-d and between man and man.”

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