Argentina Finds a Way in as Merkos Shlichus Visitation Halted

By COLlive reporter

Argentina has one of the longest quarantines, which is still ongoing, due to the coronavirus. During this time, the regular Merkos Shlichus visits could not take place.

Facing this incredible challenge, the MitzvaTank project led by Rabbi Iosef Arie and Sheina Sigaloff were not deterred and instead came up with an incredible solution.

Instead of visiting every community and every family through the country as they do each year, the MitzvaTank project organized a virtual Merkos Shlichus, calling or video calling every family, and leading activities with many communities.

8 bochurim were available to talk with anyone who wished about Yiddishkeit, and were always available to answer any phone calls, so people knew that they are not alone wherever they are.

Moreover, MitzvaTank, under the auspicious of Argentina’s Head Shliach Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, found a way to reach every Jewish home, sending by mail a full kit to hundreds of families for the High Holidays.

900 Jewish families in more than 80 cities and towns across Argentina received the new year calendar with the zmanim for every region, a kosher wine, challahs, machzorim and more.

A special edition of a pocket-size tehilim in Hebrew and Spanish was also printed, and sent as part of a campaign for ‘bayis Maleh Sforim,’ taking into account that most of the families didn’t have a Tehilim book in their homes. With the pandemic, many reached out to Rabbi Sigaloff with requests of prayers, and the printing of one thousand tehilim books was an incredible task to accomplish during this difficult time.

During the month of Tishrei, over 3000 Jews from Tartagal in the north to Ushuaia in the south (a 7-hours flight away) were inspired and strengthened by the holiday packages during these difficult times.

MitzvaTank Project wants to thank the Bochurim that video called all the people, Chabad of Argentina HQ that produced a lot of beautiful material for the High Holidays, and the girls from Bnois Isroel Seminary that helped assemble the kits.