In the summer of 5733, Tzeirei Chabad of Eretz Yisroel launched a campaign to encourage children to study mishnayos baal peh, and publicized the program with attractive advertisements, highlighting the reward system.
When the flyers reached the Rebbe, the Rebbe expressed disappointment with the fact they had chosen a soccer ball as a prize for the learning.
“What has compelled them to include this prize?” the Rebbe wrote. “Are there no other appropriate rewards in the entire land?”
But the strongest critique was for the decision-making process. “Was there no one involved in the planning who had the thought that perhaps a program involving Chabad and the Alter Rebbe may give candies as a prize, but not soccer balls?!”
Following this sharp response, Rabbi Chodakov, the Rebbes secretary, clarified the Rebbe’s stance in a phone call with his liason Reb Efrayim Wolf.
“The Rebbe doesn’t approve of such a prize, and the remaining flyers should be burned. Find a way not to give this prize out, and for the future, know the Rebbe’s approach.”
(Askonus Tziburis p. 135)
