Living Torah Archives

In 1970, Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar was sent as a Chabad emissary to Florida, where he serves as rabbi and director of The Shul in Bal Harbor. A member of his community, a champion tennis player, invited him to meet his wealthy friend. Bringing his Tefillin to the tennis courts began a relationship that lasted well beyond that first encounter. In fact, the impact of that meeting is still felt by hundreds of children today.

The source of violence, disorder and crime stems from the unhealthy balance of the head and the heart. The mind knows what is wrong, but isn’t able to control over the heart’ desires. The solution must come from a higher source: tefillin can help master our emotions and lead them towards good.

Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch is a Rabbi and teacher living in Jerusalem, Israel. He is famous for his struggles in Soviet Russia where he was imprisoned for almost a decade for his public attempts to immigrate to Israel from the Soviet Union. It is the Rebbe’s care and direction, however, which led him down the path on which he finds himself until this day.(year 1980)

Soon after Dr. Levi Reiter purchased his own pair of tefillin, he found himself in a doctor’s office with a paralyzed arm. Neurologists gave him three possible prognoses, but the Rebbe reduced it to one.

Mr. Dennis Eckstein grew up as what he calls a “three-day-a-year-Jew.” But twenty five years ago that changed, thanks to one thoughtful act of the Rebbe. (year: 1989)

“Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Tefillin delivery from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.” (1961)

In 1975, Mr. Bentzion Rader went on a business trip to Detroit, Michigan. While there, he met a non-observant Jew whom he convinced to put on Tefillin. After reporting this episode to the Rebbe, he found himself doing a little soul-searching of his own...

The Rebbe records in his diary of 1932 that his father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, instructed him to don four pairs of Tefillin every day. Rabbi Yisroel Gordon was a student in 770 when the Rebbe arrived in America in June, 1941. He recalls how this secret first became known to American Chassidim.

Some ask: “What benefit results from the Tefillin campaign? You put Tefillin on a Jew only one time, and you have no idea if it has any lasting effect on him?” Every Mitzvah forges an eternal bond between a Jew and his Creator. In addition, the Talmud teaches that a Jew who dons Tefillin even once, becomes worthy of his share in the World to Come; his entire eternal future, depends on it.

Buy him a pair of Tefillin as a gift in my name, and be sure to send me the bill.