When the war broke out in Eretz Yisroel, 11-year-old Yaakov Posner from Crown Heights had an idea. What started as a small personal initiative quickly inspired thousands of IDF soldiers. Last week, he celebrated his bar mitzvah by returning to continue the project, bringing his journey full circle.

By Anash.org reporter

A few days after the war broke out in Eretz Yisroel, 11-year-old Yaakov Posner from Crown Heights reached out to the shliach in Tefen, Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Kuti Miyodovnik, with an idea. He wanted to distribute special small Tanyas to all IDF soldiers as a source of protection when they go out to war.

Rabbi Miyodovnik, who runs a broad campaign providing tefillin to any soldier who commits to wearing them, and mezuzos for the homes of wounded soldiers and active IDF personnel, immediately agreed.

Yaakov contributed the first $100 from his own pocket and began collecting donations from his friends and classmates, which he passed on to Rabbi Miyodovnik, who distributed the Tanyas.

“Soon we had finished all the Tanyas in the store and had to arrange a special printing,” Rabbi Miyodovnik told Anash.org. “Yaakov helped fund the new printing, and before long, we had given out, baruch Hashem, over 20,000 Tanyas!”

Last week, Yaakov came to Eretz Yisroel with his family to celebrate his bar mitzvah. For his bar mitzvah, he chose to distribute the Tanyas he had initiated to soldiers on various army bases.

“It’s unbelievable what one 11-year-old who gives himself a push can accomplish,” Rabbi Miyodovnik said. “With his efforts, thousands of soldiers were inspired.”

To donate towards Rabbi Miyodovnik’s campaign to distribute tefillin, mezuzos, and Tanyas to IDF soldiers, click here.