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Mitzvah TankMitzvah tank or Mitzva tanks are large vehicles, usually a big van, or travel trailer, or recreational vehicle or campervan, sometimes even a pickup truck with a Sukkah on it, that are utilized by the Orthodox Judaism practitioners of Chabad Lubavitch Hasidism as portable "educational and outreach centers" and "mini-synagogues" and even as "Sukkah-mobiles", to reach out to secular and alienated Jews in high-density population areas where the Lubavitchers seek to create a presence and take advantage of the large volume of people-traffic to promote their visions and practice of Judaism. The word Mitzvah means a "commandment" of the Torah in Judaism, as in the famous 613 mitzvot. And the idea behind the Mitzvah tanks is to use these vehicles to spread the teachings of Judaism to the "Jewish masses" in "military fashion" in which "campaigns" and battles are fought, hence the naming of the vans and trucks as "tanks". The "strategy" behind these "campaigns" that utilized the Mitzvah tanks, was designed and highly encouraged by the seventh and last rebbe of Chabad Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994) who lived at "770" (Eastern Parkway, a street in Brooklyn, New York in the United States) which is the self-designated "Lubavitch World Headquarters" There are dozens of Mitzvah tanks that are manned by young Lubavitchers to be seen on the eve of major Jewish holidays or on Fridays prior to Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath). The vehicles/tanks usually have large banners on them extolling some aspect of Judaism or something about Rabbi Schneerson, perhaps even lauding him as the long-awaited Moshiach (the Jewish "Messiah"). The "tanks" also blare very loud klezmer-style music. They bring a whole crew of Lubavitcher Hasidim who then man street-corners asking passers-by their famous Lubavitch question: "Are you Jewish?" They usually also hand out printed matter such as brochures and cards, and assist those Jews who are willing to perform religious rituals, meaning the "Mitzvah" (i.e. commandments), such as the putting on of Tefillin (phylacteries) for men and boys, and handing out candles to women and girls. They may even extend invitations for home hospitality. The phenomenon of Mitzvah tanks has been a commonplace sight on the streets of New York City for some time. They are also to be found in all large cities with major Jewish populations where the Lubavitch movement is active. External link
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