On the Eve of Shavuos, 5733 (1973 — four months before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War), the Rebbe issued an appeal to ensure that during the upcoming summer holidays each Jewish child should receive a Torah education. The stress was placed on the small and very small children. As a reason for his call, the Rebbe quoted the verse in Psalms,1 “From the mouths of babies and infants You have established power because of Your tormentors, to stay the enemy and avenger.”
On 15 Tammuz 5733 (1973), the Rebbe wrote a letter to every Jewish boy and girl in the world under the age of 13 and 12, in which he requested an increase in learning Torah and charity during the days of Bein HaMetzorim2 in order to “stay the enemy and avenger.” The Rebbe added in his letter, “also to stay that enemy who brought upon us those catastrophes, and who has continued to intend harming our nation until this very day....”
On 18 Elul 5733 (1973), the Rebbe issued an urgent directive to Jews in Israel to gather tens of thousands of children during the days of Selichos in every place — and especially at the Western Wall — to say certain verses from the Torah and Psalms and to give charity. The Rebbe concluded the directive with these words:
Because of their ending the year in this fashion, the enemy and avenger will be stayed ... and all undesirable notions and accusations will disappear ... as it is written, “And the L‑rd your G‑d did not desire to listen to Bilam,” ... and they should toss the Satan out of the Heavenly Court on High!
