Living Torah Archives

The Rebbe participates in a children’s rally celebrating Passover.

The month of Elul is a time of introspection and preparation for the Days of Awe. In an address to children, the Rebbe teaches how we can all infuse these days with greater meaning.

The Megillah relates that everyone, from young to old, was included in Haman’s decree. Similarly, the Evil Inclination, also wants to, G-d forbid, influence the Jewish people, starting with Jewish children, to weaken their strength and pride.

During their sojourn in the desert, G-d protected the Jewish people against danger and the elements with the Clouds of Glory, which the Torah refers to as “sukkahs.” To commemorate this, He commanded us to observe the holiday of Sukkos, when we spend a week in temporary huts.

According to the Jewish calendar, a second month of Adar is added in a leap year. While Purim is usually celebrated in Adar, during a leap year it is postponed until the second Adar, and we mark Purim Katan—“the small Purim”—in the first month.

Soldiers spend most of their time training and carrying out missions. Periodically, they assemble at a parade, where their performance is checked, and medals are awarded.

Jewish girls are equal members in Tzivos Hashem. Even though in Torah the “army” is not a place for women, when it comes to a battle of life and death – and the battle against the evil inclination is a battle of survival – the law is different. In that case, even a bride must go from her wedding to take part.

In an army, there are certain times when the soldiers are intensively involved in training and active duty, while at other times they are granted time to rest.

An address to children on Sukkos: Unlike other nations, who parade with a rifle, a Jew parades with a lulav. And instead of bullets, a Jew arms himself with an esrog. Instead of brandishing daggers or swords, a Jew carries hadassim (myrtles) and aravos (willows).

Every Jewish boy and girl is chosen by G-d to be His “soldier”. Their duty is to banish the Evil Inclination, and influence the entire world to follow the Good Inclination alone.

The Rebbe addresses a children's rally: The subject of your new contest is Jewish Unity. The present month, Cheshvan, is when King Solomon and the Jewish People completed the First Holy Temple. It is an auspicious month for Jews to unite together to merit the Third Temple which we will build with Moshiach.

Every Jewish child is a soldier in “Tzivos Hashem – G-d’s Army.” He or she is given the strength to overpower his own evil inclination. But success in this mission depends on careful adherence to the army’s basic rules of conduct.