Since 1981, the Jewish Children's Club, "Tzivos Hashem", has published a seasonal magazine for Jewish children called The Moshiach Times.
From the onset, one could see the Rebbe's keen interest in even the most minute details regarding the magazine.
The Rebbe once explained that a child is compared to a sapling. Whilst a full-grown tree will endure harsh winds and severe weather, a sapling is vulnerable to even the slightest scratch. On a full-grown tree the scratch will go unnoticed. Yet, on a sapling it will cause severe permanent damage.
The Rebbe was the quickest to enact this analogy to real life. To the Rebbe, every detail counted, especially when dealing with a child, whose life is being molded by everything he or she hears and sees.
In June 1984, the editorial board wished to include a cartoon aiming to present the teachings of Ethics of our Fathers in a form that would capture the imagination of young readers, in the form of comics. Having received a mixed response about the comics, the editors wrote to the Rebbe asking his advice. Several samples were submitted.
The Rebbe's response (free rendition from the Hebrew):
The central purpose of the magazine is for children, very young ones in particular, therefore experienced educators must resolve in all the above. In general there is no need to be pictures of non-kosher animals.
It isn't proper to draw people specifically abnormal (very fat, very long noses, etc.), although this has become the norm in the comic world. My opinion is that this is a serious educational error, because when dealing with children, the more simple and normal, the better the effect. (In my opinion the same applies concerning adults).
