The year 2017 marks 50 years since the Rebbe launched the Worldwide Tefillin Campaign.

In May of 1967, on the eve of the Six-Day War, as the entire world predicted Israel’s demise, the Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated the Worldwide Tefillin Campaign, proclaiming the mitzvah of tefillin to be a spiritual defense system, with tangible protective and redemptive qualities for Jews and Israel (Talmud Brachot 6a). The Rebbe encouraged Jewish males over the age of 13 to wrap tefillin every weekday, even if they were not religious, hadn't done it since their Bar Mitzvah, or ever in their lives. The response to tefillin was overwhelming! Jews, in unprecedented numbers, embraced the campaign.

The Jewish people’s surprise victory in the face of overwhelming odds stunned the world. Coupled with the heroic efforts of our brave soldiers and the brilliant military strategies was a strong indication of a higher force. The protective cover of G‑d was inspired by the thousands of new mitzvahs performed by our people.

Since then, the campaign has reached millions of Jews all over the world from all walks of life and at all levels of observance. The most famous "outpost" is at the Western Wall, the Kotel, in Jerusalem, where several million visitors have since observed this cardinal mitzvah.

Let's do a Mitzvah for Israel today! It's in our hands!