Chabad in S. Monica Responds to Terrorist Attacks

In April of last year, or in the Jewish calendar the month of Nissan, marked the hundredth year since the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.  Chabad in S. Monica wanted to give the Rebbe something ‘big’ for his birthday, and decided to add in Mitzvos in multiples of one hundred.  A campaign began to get one thousand more Mezuzos posted in Jewish homes.  One thousand more Mitzvos of Tefillin (that would not otherwise have been) should be performed.  Also, to add one thousand more Mitzvos of Shabbat and holiday candle lighting.

By the month of September, the numbers of these Mitzvos were growing.  Through the efforts of Chabad in S. Monica we were halfway to our goal.  Then the terrible events of September 11th took place.  President Bush called for a day of prayer and candle lighting on the following Friday.  Rabbi Levitansky said:

“The President of the United States agrees with our Mitzvah campaign.  Let us continue our Mitzvah campaign, each Mitzvah adds light and holiness into the world.  Tefillin is a short prayer one can do every day. Let us add another two hundred Mitzvos of Tefillin to our goal.  Let us light the candles of Shabbat and add another two hundred to our goal.”

He also suggested that if one already does these Mitzvos, help a fellow Jew in performing them.  One can go Friday afternoon to a nursing home or to an elderly friend and assist them in lighting Shabbat candles.  A Jewish man can keep a pair of Tefillin at his office or business and offer them to any Jew that walks through the door.  “ If everyone in this room would just do this with one person once a week, imagine how many Mitzvos we can bring into the world.”