Jewish Caravan Bears Inspiring Message

A caravan of five motor homes--otherwise known as “mitzvah tanks”--visited six Orange County locations Monday as part of a trek across North America to prophesy that the Moshiach, or Messiah, is coming.

The Moshiach Awareness Caravan, which left New York City on Feb. 28, is manned by 17 Jewish men studying Judaism in Brooklyn. The caravan previously stopped in Atlantic City, Miami, Houston and Tucson. Organizers expect the caravan to make more than 30 stops, including several in Canada, and it is not scheduled to return to New York until April 2.

“We are getting people aware of what’s going on,” said Eli Rosenfeld, one of the men participating in the caravan.

The procession rolled north through Laguna Beach just before 2 p.m. People watched and listened as music poured forth from the vehicles.

The men have traveled nearly 4,000 miles so far in the five-week tour to deliver their message.

“It’s a very uplifting message, and in today’s society, everyone’s looking for an uplifting message,” said Rosenfeld, a member of the Lubavitcher sect of Hasidic Jews.

“It is a time to rejoice and be happy,” said Zushie Rimler, another caravan member.

The group will stop at private schools and senior citizen centers in Huntington Beach, Westminster, Irvine, Aliso Viejo and Mission Viejo.

At the Tarbut V’Torah Day School in Costa Mesa on Monday, Rosenfeld told more than a dozen 8- and 9-year-olds that after the coming of the Moshiach, “we’re all going to be like brothers and sisters. There will be peace and harmony, and all the wounds will be healed.”

He also encouraged them to do good deeds. “When you do a good deed, you tip the scale,” Rosenfeld said. “Everyone has to view the world as though they can make a difference.”

Some students said they would be kind to their parents, while others said they would give to charities.

Rosenfeld distributed pennies to the children, which they then placed into a canister for charity.

With this symbolic gesture, Rimler said, “we’re on our way to make this (planet) a better place for everyone.”