In keeping with its indomitable energy, increasing activities and unequalled creativity, the Bris Avrohom organization headed by Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, based in Hillside, New Jersey, is launching its newest project, “A Protection and Hastening of Moshiach Campaign.” The campaign is being launched in the month of Iyar whose initial letters spell out “Ani Hashem Rofecha,” I am God your healer, fittingly during the current COVID health crisis.
Determined to reach over 10,000 Jews, mostly emigres from the former Soviet Union residing within the State of New Jersey, Rabbi Kanelsky’s hope is that by the end of the year, 1,800 households will proudly display 7,700 kosher mezuzot on their doorposts and will light Shabbat candles weekly.
In the words of Rabbi Kanelsky, “One of the most essential prayers in Judaism is the Shema, a prayer that is recited three times per day. The Shema instructs us ‘U’chetavtem al mezuzot beitecha u’b’shearecha,’ and you shall inscribe them, the words of the Shema prayer, on the doorposts and gates of your homes. A mezuzah mounted on the right side of a home’s doorpost designates the home as Jewish, a reminder to the home’s inhabitants of God and our heritage. In addition, a mezuzah is a symbol of God’s watchful care over the home. The placing of a mezuzah on the doors of a home or office is a physical and spiritual protector for the inhabitants, whether they are inside or outside. God’s promise is that anyone who carefully observes the mitzvah of mezuzah will lead a longer, richer life, as will their descendents, as Deuteronomy states, ‘So that you will prolong your days and the days of your children.’”
The mezuzah klaf, parchment, is inscribed on the outer side with the name sha-dai, one of the many names of Hashem that indicates “Shomer daltot Yisrael,” He watches over the doors of Israel. Untold stories are told of Hashem’s watchful eye over individuals in the merit of their affixing mezuzot to their homes. Similarly, the Shabbat candles are merited with hastening our redemption. As the midrash suggests, “Im atem meshamrim nerot shel Shabbat, ani mareh lachem nerot shel tzion, If you keep the candles of Shabbat, I will show you the candles of Zion (redemption).”
Rabbi Kanelsky foresees the upcoming campaign as follows: The 7,700 mezuzahs will be distributed to 1,800 Jewish families, a multiple of chai, who do not have a mezuzah on their outer door, have a mezuzah that is disqualified or cannot afford a mezuzah. Bris Avrohom will send volunteers, hopefully accompanied by their families, to these homes where they will affix a kosher mezuzah to the outer door, present a set of attractive candlesticks and instruct them in the recitation of the Friday night blessings over the candles. Often the volunteers will be accompanied by their children who will be included in the mitzvah and accrue positive memories of their parents bringing Jews closer to their roots.
There will be various venues for the community to participate in the campaign. One is to volunteer their time for home visits. A second is to help subsidize the mezuzot and candlesticks offered at a fraction of their costs.
“Our new campaign,” in the words of Rabbi Kanelsky, “will enable us to participate in the coming geulah, redemption, speedily in our days.”
“A Protection and Hastening of Moshiach Campaign“ will be ongoing until the end of the year. To learn more about opportunities for participating in and contributing to the campaign, please email [email protected] or call the office located at 910 Salem Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205, at 908-289-0770.
By Pearl Markovitz
