Miami Student Take Ahavas Yisroel to a New Level

MIAMI, FL [CHI] — The students of Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami are well known for their over-the-top ahavas yisroel—love of their fellow Jews. Two years ago the student body raised $18,000 dollars for the rocket riddled Israeli communities of Sderot and Neharia. Another program encouraged them to give a gift of “mitzvahs” to the Rebbe and the Jewish people—which resulted in the collective performance of 22,180 extra mitzvahs. Past accomplishments have made it clear—the children of Lubavitch Educational Center are ready for anything. In fact, they’re now ready for a new mission: “Succos—No Jew Will be Left Behind.” 


In honor of the Yom Tov of Succos and the year of “Hakhel” Lubavitch Elementary School has arranged a mivtzoyim “contest” whereby all students pledge to head to the streets, malls, nursing homes and hospitals to help as many people as possible perform the mitzvah of lulav and esrog. The Yom Tov of Succos, which itself represents the epitome of love for one’s fellow Jew is the perfect time to undertake such a project. The lulav, esrog, hadas and arava, each represent a different type of Jew and their commitment to Torah. The esrog, which has a beautiful smell and a strong taste, represents a Jew who learns the Torah and performs the commandments. The lulav, which has no aroma but has an interesting taste, represents one who studies the Torah but does not always perform the actual deeds. The hadas, which has a very aromatic smell, represents one who performs the mitzvos but unfortunately does not study the Torah as well. The arava which has no smell, nor taste, represents a Jew who is unaware of his Jewish responsibilities and does not yet perform the mitzvahs or learn from the Torah.

The beauty of the mitzvah of lulav and esrog is that all the components are bound together, united as one. The concept of unity is so essential to the mitzvah that if one of the species is missing, the entire mitvzah cannot be performed. The lesson, an obvious one, is that Jews of all walks of life must stand united as one. We must take the lesson of Succos to heart this year, as we begin a year of Hakhel—ingathering. When the Beis Hamikdash stood in Eretz Yisroel, all Jews from all walks of life would come together and gather at the Holy Temple. It is this message Lubavitch Elementary School gives its students—we are all pieces of one puzzle; when one piece is missing the puzzle is incomplete.
To bring this lesson to life, the elementary school program department headed by Rabbi Yakov Garfinkel, wanted to make it possible for all boys to perform the mitzvah of lulav and esrog and enable others to do it as well. With the support of and in conjunction with Tzivos Hashem in New York, every boy who has pledged to go on mivtzoyim on Succos was given their very own kosher lulav and esrog set.

The students also had the special opportunity to learn techniques of braiding their own lulav bands from strips of palm branches. Upon the completion of their 100% kosher bound lulav, hadas and arovos the children practiced the essential blessings and movements when performing the mitzvah of lulav and esrog in order to properly help the people whom they meet.

This project has taken the school by storm, as every single elementary school boy has taken upon himself to perform the tremendous mission of “No Jew will be left behind on Succos” and will—with the help of Hashem—go on mivtzoyim. Parents have been encouraged to take pictures of their children on mivtzoyim, which will be posted on the school’s web site at www.lecfl.com.