What is the Secret of the Flyers with Pictures of the Captives in Tel Aviv, and Why Do They Make Everyone Tear Up?

Such a scene has not been witnessed in Tel Aviv for a long time: men and women, passersby, and even those protesting in Captives Square can be seen almost everywhere holding pocket-sized flyers, displaying pictures of the captives alongside dedicated chapters of Psalms for each of them.

These flyers, it turns out, are being distributed in tens of thousands of copies, with the aim that thousands of people will read Psalms daily and continuously for each captive personally. Each flyer, as can be seen, features a picture of one of the captives, along with Psalm 20 and their personalized chapter based on their age.

A Special Chapter for Each

The person behind this initiative, it turns out, is Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Gerlitzky, Rabbi of Central Tel Aviv and Chabad emissary in Tel Aviv. In conversation, the Rabbi quotes the Baal Shem Tov, mentioning the teaching from the Baal HaTanya, who received it from the Maggid of Mezeritch, about the significance of each person reciting the chapter of Psalms corresponding to their age. For instance, if someone celebrates their 20th birthday, from that date they begin to read Psalm 21, as they enter their 21st year, and so forth – each age corresponding to their years.

"Like all of Israel, I also tried to think of what I could do for the captives," Rabbi Gerlitzky explains, "and this is how I came up with the idea to create flyers, each featuring a captive's chapter of Psalms." The Rabbi gives an example while holding a flyer with the photo of Maxim Harakin, kidnapped at a party in Re'im. Maxim is 35, so it features Psalm 36. "Of course, we ensured to include each captive's full name, including the mother's name, for proper intention during the recitation." He explains, "Additionally, we meticulously verified the exact age and birthday of each captive. Sadly, there is a young child not yet one year old, for whom we recite Psalm 1, and there are very elderly individuals, like an 86-year-old captive for whom we recite Psalm 87. It is painful and chilling to think about."

Tens of Thousands of Merits

Rabbi Gerlitzky notes that once the initiative was launched, it quickly expanded, and the scenes in Tel Aviv are extraordinarily moving. "We distributed the flyers at 185 locations in Tel Aviv where public Chanukah candle lightings occurred," he shares, "It was amazing to see crowds gathering everywhere, standing in line to receive the flyers. Personally, I was at a central lighting with the mayor, where we distributed hundreds of flyers, and of course, we visit Captives Square daily, dispersing thousands of these flyers. There are even individuals who approach us personally, requesting a large number of flyers specifically for a certain captive, and we ensure to send these flyers all across the country."

One of the most touching stories occurred, according to him, at a school in Tel Aviv, where a teacher shared how her students have been reading the Psalm chapter of one of the kidnapped girls recently released. "When it was announced that the girl was released, the students' joy knew no bounds," the teacher recounted.

"There are no words to describe the Jewish emotion and the incredible unity of the people of Israel," Rabbi Gerlitzky expresses emotionally, "It's amazing to see how everyone comes together to pray and recite Psalms for Jews in captivity who are suffering the greatest hardships humanity can endure. I meet people who tell me they have never put on tefillin or opened a siddur, and now they too are joining."

Do you have an estimate of how many chapters of Psalms have been recited as part of the project?

"We distributed tens of thousands of flyers, but many people requested the files and printed them independently, so the flyers reach every corner of the country, and I have no idea about the exact number of chapters recited. We are now preparing another print run to involve as many Jews as possible in the project. I emphasize to everyone that even if they read a chapter of Psalms just once, it is good, but of course, if they persist until the captive's release, it will be a great merit, because Psalms pierce all the heavens."

To receive flyers for Psalms recitation, contact Chabad House in Tel Aviv: 03-35250202