The younger Soloveitchik was returning to his studies at Hebrew University following the passing of his mother earlier that year.
Years later, in an interview with JEM, Wineberg, whose 19-year-old son Avrohom was studying in Israel at the time, recalled giving Soloveitchik the tape and telling him it contained good news for the people of Israel. On arrival at Lod Airport the next day, Soloveitchik was greeted by Rabbi Berke Wolff, an energetic young Chabad Chassid who promptly set about publicising the Rebbe's words throughout Israel.
“I heard that tape on Monday night after Lag BaOmer,” says Rabbi Yosef Gopin, a Kfar Chabad native who, then 16, spent those weeks helping his older sister in Jerusalem after his brother-in-law was called up by the army. Today the director of Chabad of Hartford, Conn., Gopin says a group of people gathered at the apartment of Rabbi Chanoch Glitzenstein in the Shikun Chabad neighbourhood of Jerusalem, where they listened to the recording with bated breath. “It was very late, but Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin [a renowned halachic authority and chief editor of Encyclopedia Talmudit] came to the house to hear the tape. When it was over, he asked: 'Please play it again.' ”
Wolff also delivered a copy to Israel Radio, which promptly broadcast the Yiddish-language recording with simultaneous Hebrew translation.
“ 'G-d Is Already Protecting the Holy Land and Salvation Is Near'-The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Message to His Followers and to Israel's Citizens,” proclaimed Yediot Achronot's May 31 headline.
The article, along with other similar ones, underlined the Rebbe's care for the morale of the Jewish people, quoting him as saying that “they have no reason to be afraid, and should not frighten others. I am not at all comfortable with the panicking and exaggerations [being spread in and about Israel].”
Five days before the war, a pamphlet addressed to “our brethren the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces” was published by Tzeirei Agudas Chabad of Israel containing the Rebbe's words to the people of Israel and those directed specifically at the soldiers. The pamphlet said that the soldiers' strength came from G-d, who would protect them, and quoting from the Exodus, they would see the great miracle of “the children of Israel marching out triumphantly.” With the assistance of the chief rabbinate, 100,000 copies were printed and distributed by the military throughout their ranks. Amid the general feeling of dread and the restless anticipation of war, young soldiers and seasoned veterans reported feeling buoyed by the support.
In preparation for war, the military moved tanks through a train depot in the central city of Lod. On more than one was painted the hebrew slogan 'דובכהל כ מליובאװיטש להרבי'—“With utmost thanks to the Lubavitcher Rebbe.”
On Shabbos, two days before the war began, in New York, the Rebbe spoke about the importance of tefillin, saying, in Yiddish, “my point is not to simply lecture, rather—as in all areas of Torah—this must be brought into action. In connection with the current situation in our Holy Land, you should endeavour, intensively, that as many Jews as possible should put on tefillin.” In calling on soldiers to perform the mitzvah, the Rebbe quoted the verse “the nations of the world shall see that the name of G-d is upon you, and they will fear you,” adding that the Talmud explains this refers to tefillin. A telegram relaying the Rebbe's message was received in Israel immediately after Shabbat, and its content was also publicised to Chabad Chassidim, who were tasked with spreading out and putting on tefillin with their fellow Jews, and to the soldiers themselves.
Israel experienced a most dramatic and miraculous victory on so many fronts which stunned the entire world. At the same time, Jews everywhere were elated and wished to connect with their Jewishness and show their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to G-d. With the war over and the Kotel liberated, hundreds of men lined up to don the black boxes and wrap their forearms in the soft leather straps. By the end of November 1967, more than 400,000 Jews are estimated to have put on Tefillin at the Western Wall in Jerusalem!”
