New Yorkers were filled with joy as they watched the 51st annual Mitzvah Tank Parade make its way through the city streets on April 9, spreading awareness about Passover, and distributing hand-baked holiday matzah to thousands of residents across the five boroughs.
“The response to the parade is overwhelming,” said Rabbi Mordy Hirsch, director of the Mitzvah Tanks organization. “We saw families, tourists and office workers all stopping to participate and learn. It’s a meaningful way to experience the spirit of Passover.”
The parade’s 75 mitzvah tanks—RVs converted into Jewish educational centers on wheels—rolled out from Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., and made their way to Manhattan, creating a spectacular sight as they traveled up the Avenue of the Americas. The procession brought smiles to the faces of onlookers as the vehicles—adorned with colorful informational posters and blasting traditional Jewish music—spread Jewish pride and Passover matzah throughout the city.
The Mitzvah Tank Parade is a beloved New York tradition and the largest of its kind in the country. It dates back to 1974 when the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—initiated the concept as mobile Jewish educational centers. These vehicles were designed to bring Jewish traditions and celebrations out of the synagogue and directly to the streets of New York City.
Originally starting with just a handful of vehicles, the parade has grown over the decades into the vibrant celebration it is today. The tanks were nicknamed “tanks against assimilation,” which peacefully brought Jewish pride and tradition into the public sphere.
Since its inception, the annual parade has spread the joy of Passover and celebrated the birthday of the Rebbe on 11th of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Each tank is operated by a group of yeshivah students, rabbis and community volunteers who enthusiastically distribute Passover essentials to passers-by.
The mitzvah tanks distributed approximately 25,000 boxes of matzah, all hand-packed by volunteers from the community. These traditional unleavened breads are central to the Passover celebration, symbolizing the hasty departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
The mitzvah tanks also provided educational materials about Passover traditions, helping to share the cultural significance of the holiday with the broader New York community.
“The Mitzvah Tank Parade has become an iconic New York tradition that residents look forward to each year,” said Hirsch. “The joy is palpable, and people appreciate that people took the time to bring the spirit Passover to them.”
For more information about the mitzvah tanks and the parade, visit: mitzvahtanks.com.