The Jewish world marked an important milestone this week: 50 years since the miraculous victory of the Six Day War. At Chabad we are reliving the experience with the Survival of a Nation course. This week we watched a powerful clip of Uzi Eilam, who on the momentous day of June 7, 1967 was the battalion commander, leading his troops through the walls of Lions Gate to retake control of the Old City.
Uzi tells of the historic wave carrying his troops, as they ran through the ancient winding streets. As soon as they arrived at the Western Wall, the military rabbi Shlomo Goren took out a Shofar, but was unsuccessful in getting the sounds out. Uzi took the Shofar and blew it, and in his words: "So, blowing the Shofar, on that day, was one of the most outstanding things I did in my life".
It's striking to hear this from an individual who, in the decades that followed, went on to hold many senior positions in the Israeli military and government. As you watch the way he relates this episode, you notice how just recalling this event gives him a tremendous 'lift'.
Most of us cannot point to such an awesome moment in our life, where the mere memory of it can carry us through a difficult day for decades to come. However, what the Shofar is for Uzi fifty years later, the Tefillin is for us every day.
Let me explain: The Mitzvah of Tefillin is designed for a simple objective; Take a brief moment of spiritual connection and focus in the morning (combined with a physical ritual, keeping it tangible and memorable), so that if later in the day you fall to a low, feeling empty or unmotivated, then recalling the morning 'high' should be able to lift you up.
In the terrifying days before the war, the Rebbe launched the Tefillin campaign, encouraging Jewish men to wrap Tefillin, even for just a one-time Mitzvah, with no intention to commit to it daily. For the past fifty years, Chabad has become famous for reintroducing this Mitzvah to Jews throughout the world, regardless of background or level of observance.
In honor of the 50 year milestone, I'd like to set a communal goal of 50 local Jewish men wrapping Tefillin over the next 30 days. If you don't usually wrap, I'd gladly come visit you and give you a hand for a one-time Mitzvah. If you do already wrap, encourage a colleague to do the same. I will keep you posted on progress of this campaign on my Facebook wall.
Do your part - lend your arm!