So 59 ‘Mitzvah Tanks’ rolled through Manhattan and paralyzed traffic, albeit for a short few minutes at a time, and people got to see the ‘Winnebago’s’ with the big signs that said ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Mitzvah Tank’ and young energetic Bochurim and children calling out ‘Happy Passover’, one may be tempted to dismissively ask ‘what’s the point?’ or ‘how many people even noticed it?’ all valid questions, for a pessimist, but the answer is quite surprising.
According to Google Trends one of today’s most popular searches is ‘mitzvah tank’ coming in at 55th from the top, and its peak was during the parade itself! Geographic data also showed that over 80% of the searches were made from New York.
How do you Measure the Magnitude of Impact from a Mitzvah Tank Parade?
So 59 ‘Mitzvah Tanks’ rolled through Manhattan and paralyzed traffic, albeit for a short few minutes at a time, and people got to see the ‘Winnebago’s’ with the big signs that said ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Mitzvah Tank’ and young energetic Bochurim and children calling out ‘Happy Passover’, one may be tempted to dismissively ask ‘what’s the point?’ or ‘how many people even noticed it?’ all valid questions, for a pessimist, but the answer is quite surprising.
According to Google Trends one of today’s most popular searches is ‘mitzvah tank’ coming in at 55th from the top, and its peak was during the parade itself! Geographic data also showed that over 80% of the searches were made from New York.
Related searches included “mitzvah, pesach dates 2009, jewish holidays 2009, bar mitzvah and passover 2009.”
Rabbi Mordy Hirsch, Director of the Mitzvah Tank Office spoke with CrownHeights.info saying that today with the advances in cell phone technology and social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook people are searching for information as they see it happening.
Mordy added that “This is what the Rebbe wanted when he said the Sicha on Chof Ches Nissan about Tut Altz Vos Ir Kent… they went out with the tanks the next day, the Rebbe used a Loshon comparing what the Bochurim did to a Mitzvas Aseh Zman Groma, and expressed his satisfaction with what the Bochurim did.” Adding that “We have to do even more and stronger, and at the end of the day this is the best birthday present we can give our Rebbe.”
The parade was made possible through the dedication of the Bochurim who volunteered their time and didn’t night sleep nights and days in order to make this parade happen. And a very special thank you to Anash who opend their wallets and donated, even in this tough economy.
AN ADMIRER
GO MORDY HIRSCH!! YOU’RE THE MOST AMAZING, DEDICATED, IBERGEGEBEN PERSON I KNOW! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Totty and Mommy
Mordy, we are so proud of you!
You did it!
We are Shepping more and more nachas with each tank!
Keep up your fantastic work.
moshe
Very Impressive. With these technologies, we see the impacr of the Rebbe and his Chassidim.
Just wondering
Where do the tanks go for the other 364 days?
Just asking?
Instead of counting the google hits can you count how much money did the day bring in for tzedakah?
Could the money for the tanks have been better spent on Jewish families trying to pay for rent or mortgages or food?
Just asking.
Boruch N. Hoffinger
BS”D
I don’t know Mordy Hirsch, but,
KOL HAKAVOD!
rentals
to ‘just wondering”: their rentals. their rented for the day every yar
A bochur
To ‘just asking’. No offense, but can I ask how much money did you spend on Mishloach Manos this year and how much on Matanos La’evyonim? Couldn’t the money spent on Shalach manos been better spent on Tzedaka? How about the extra money you put in to get a Mehudar’dikeh Esrog, Matzos etc. Putting money into one Mitzvah over another is not a bad thing.
nice!
really nice, kol hakavd!
just replying to those who don-t know
to just wondering: Winnebegoo rents their ATV’s out to other people who rent it from them for their own uses.
to just asking: Don’t forget that the Rebbe was a big backer of the “Tankistim”, so yes, it’s money spent for Hafotzah. But that is important too. The Rebbe stressed to make a shturem of spreading yiddishkiet, and we as chassidim have an obligation to follow the Rebbe’s directives!!!