Holy Sheep – The Far Reaching Effects of Shlichus

Approximately 25 years ago, I, together with another seven Bachurim from Oholei Torah merited to be sent by the Rebbe on Shlichus for two years from Oholei Torah to Casablanca, Morocco.

In addition to our mission of learning in the Yeshiva between ourselves and also with members of the community, our outreach to the community at large was through the activities of Tzivot Hashem under the leadership and guidance of the late Shliach, Reb Yehuda Leib (Leibel) Raskin OBM.

Tzivos Hashem is the international Jewish children’s program founded by the Rebbe in the fall of 1980.

Tzivot Hachem as it was called in Morocco was something out of the ordinary. On Friday afternoons and on Sundays, children from throughout Casablanca would come to “LE CLUB” – Club Tzivot Hachem for hours of play and learning. On Wednesday nights there was a special program for teens and on Shabbos afternoon, we had special learning programs and interactive games.

Tremendous effort and resources were put into making Le CLUB, the preferred destination for Casablanca’s Jewish youth, as we competed with other local Jewish programs such as Les Scouts (Boy Scouts) and Le DEJJ, where there was more emphasis on soccer tournaments than on learning Jewish values.

As such we imported from the USA the latest electronic games, bobby foot, air hockey and other fascinating equipment to attract the children. Most important however was our mission and Shlichus, but nevertheless, having the best games didn’t hurt.

Baruch Hashem, we had the largest registration of children and the most successful programs.

The highlight of Tziivot Hachem were the summer and winter overnight camps which Rabbi Raskin would arrange in distant cities of Morocco. Here we would gather 100-120 Jewish boys from age 7 – 15 and instill so much Chayus and Yiddishkeit, beyond imagination. Looking over the monthly reports we would send to the Rebbe listing the Hachlotos of each and every child after each and every camp continues to inspire many of us still today.

Two weeks ago, I, together with two other Shluchim, Rav Mendel Raskin and Shimon Mockin, were in Paris, France for a reunion of sorts with former Tzivot Hachem going back 21-27 years back, (children who participated in our programs from 1981 – 1987).

Actually it was for a Siyum Sefer Torah written by former students and campers of Tzivot Hachem in memory of Reb Leib Raskin who passed away some three and half years ago.

The Sefer Torah itself and the Siyum was organized by one of the original children in Tzivot Hachem.

Close to 400 people attended the Siyum, amongst them almost fifty young men, all former Tzivot Hachem.

Some of you may recall the famous Kos Shel Bracha where the Rebbe asked the children from Morocco who had come here for Yom Tov to sing Tzivot Hachem and Hareini Mekabel…etc.

Anticipating this unofficial reunion of sorts with former students and campers, Rabbi Mendel Raskin and I brought several photo albums from the camps we were involved with.

It is hard to describe the excitement of these young men, approximate ages from 32-38 getting so excited to see these albums, looking for themselves in the pictures and most importantly, reminiscing over the wonderful experiences they had in Tzivot Hachem.

When the dancing started, and songs from our camps were played, residents of the 16th district in Paris must have thought an earthquake was taking place, as the floor and walls of Chaya Mushka danced together with Tzivot Hachem and the Torah.

Most of these former campers and students live in Paris but some drove more than 500 km each way from cities as distant as Marseilles just to see the three of us who had come for the event.

The hugs, kisses and warm welcome was unbelievable. I personally was shocked as I listened to some of the memories of individual campers. One remembered me patrolling the outdoor camp grounds at night with my night club after several campers reported strangers in the vicinity, while others recalled participating in my learning group, and yet another recalled my coming to their classrooms each week to give a quick Oneg Shabbat on Fridays, etc.

Mention the word color war, and it was as if we were all back in Ifrane and Ouzanne 25 years ago, but it was like yesterday, as if time had stopped for xx many years.

As I sit down to write this letter, there are two points which stand out so strongly, which I wish to share with you.

The first is the importance of accepting each and every child, not withstanding the challenges he or she may cause.

A challenging child, full of energy and a comedian of sorts registered for our new camp. Counselors who knew him from previous camps asked that we don’t accept him to the new camp. A debate took place and our Rosh Yeshiva at the time, Harav Yosef Yitzchok Belinov, asked that we take him and said he would take personal Achraius and he asked Shimon Mockin to take him in his bunk.

25 years later, it is this same camper who took the initiative to write this Sefer Torah and is currently helping to write another Sefer Torah in memory of HaRav Shlomo Matusof ob”m, and the one who organized all these events and brought all these people together.

The responsibility we have as Shluchim and Mechanchim to accommodate each and every student, regardless of the challenges ahead should not and cannot be minimized.

One can never know how our actions of today will impact another persons life for years to come.

The second point, equally and perhaps even more important, is to know the responsibility we have as role models and how our actions today might influence others today and even 25 or 30 years down the road.

Our students and campers remembered every little detail, as to them, we were holy messengers of the Rebbe and everything we said or did was pure and holy. Baruch Hashem, we seemingly did the right things and left the right impressions at that time as experienced during this recent visit.

As Chasidim and Shluchim of the Rebbe, our every action is scrutinized and engraved in people’s memories forever. We cannot preach or teach what we ourselves don’t practice and we must respect our position as role models and Neiros Lehair to others.

As the Rebbe once said in a Farbfrengen, that a Chosid, wherever he or she may go, they must know that they are taking the Rebbe with them.

How we live our lives, the way we dress, and the way we interact with others has far reaching effects on ourselves, our families, our community, and eventually the world at large. It is no wonder therefore that the Rambam writes that each and every person must view themselves and the world like a scale, and that with one good thought and deed, the scale can be tipped once and for all in the favor of good

May we all live our lives in accordance to the Torah and wishes of the Rebbe, so that together we will merit the full revelation and coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days.