Mitzvah Tanks Impact Over 60 Cities in 12 Brazilian States
“There’s no far Jew” is a literally truth lived every day by nine volunteering Bochurim who drove for 9,600 miles this year, visiting Yiden in all corners of the country. From Jaguarão-RS on the border with Uruguay to Lençóis-BA in the northern side, from western city of Uruguaiana to the eastern Vitória.
Split in three separate groups the dedicated to inspire people with visits in their houses and offices during the two months of their Summer vacation, sharing some words of Torah, putting on Tefilin, and any other needed mitzvah such as affixing or checking the Mezuzes.
Messages of Jewish pride, strength in Yiddishkeit and importance of the Jewish heritage, often are the only source of connection to Yiddishkeit for these Yiden, and the project is focused to aid those that live in remote cities that not necessarily have a Synagogue, Jewish Community, or Rabbi.
Events, Shiurim, Seudas Shabbos, Mega Challah Bake, Q&A’s sessions, Havdalah with Chassidic Nigunim and many more were part of the creativity made throughout the trip. Many of the attendants had the pleasure of participating in such Jewish activities for the first time and the impact pushed the small communities to organize their own throughout the year.
Now, after such long and product trip, the Project is only just beginning. The job now has changed to continuously keeping in touch with the Yiden in the small communities and providing them with their Jewish needs throughout the year. Chanukah Boxes and Shmurah Matzah are shipped across the country, and in special dates Bochurim and Rabbis visit one of those cities such as for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur, Purim & Chanukah and for the Pesach Seder.
The Project Mitzva Tank Brazil is managed from A to Z by the young volunteering Bochurim, alongside help from various Shluchim of different areas.
A short story that happened this year showed to us the continuity of the work.
“Not long before the South Route left, we received a pair of Tefillin from a Holocaust survivor, as a wish of his that the pair should go to someone who would do the Mitzvah every day. This was on a busy Friday as we were preparing for a Kabalat & Seudat Shabat, in the city of Ponta Grossa – PR. Two of us went to do a visit with Samuel, a Yid that unfortunately has had a very hard life. From his financial conditions to his family, our visit was very important, as we meet in his booth in the main street where he sells soccer team shirts. He told us how things are going and some of the harsh stories he lives through As the conversation went on, he mentioned that he would be happy to start putting on the Tefillin every day. It was a surprise that we had exactly what he wanted, without thinking too much he opened his wallet and said here is everything I have, I want to buy this pair. We taught him how to do it, and from that Friday on he puts on every day (besides Shabbos). But the story doesn’t end there. The father of one of the Bochurim, Rabbi Yossi Alpern, Shliach in S. Paulo, mention this story at his Shabbos table, and one of the men present at the moment, stunned by this man’s life story and how he is able to commit for such a thing even living in a small town, decided that he could also change and do something more. So he did, taking upon himself that he would also put on Tefillin every day. Samuel after hearing the impact he had in others said: “I was very happy to know that I positively influenced the life of a person practicing a great Mitzvah of putting on Tefillin, I am even happier to know that I have the affection and caring of you. I feel very comfortable knowing that I can count on you in my mission as a Jew here. When you mentioned that someone will put Tefillin every day, I felt like a flame that brought light to someone’s life. I’m feeling an immense happiness”.
This is not the only one, a man already decided to have a Bris Milah, some kids will join summer camps, and many more stories that are building.
These years powerful group included:
North Route: Moshe Antebi, Chaim Begun, Nussi Schapiro and Mendy Tamezgui.
Floripa Route: Yaacov Alpern, Shaya Begun and Mendy Steinmetz.
South Route: Yaacov Alpern, Shaya Begun, Shmuly Goldman and Naftaly Palace.
To know more about the project, see our Instagram page at https://instagram.com/mitzvatankbrasil?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
If you know of any Yiden, anywhere in the Country, let us know at +1 (908) 777-0613 (WhatsApp, Call or Text) or at mitzvatankbrasil@gmail.com
Donations could be made to PayPal.me/MitzvaTank (send as friends & family)
