by COLlive reporter
Bochurim Shmulie Brackman and Yisrael Zecharia traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska for Purim, to bring the joy of the holiday to the Jewish residents of the tiny Jewish community.
The bochurim flew into the city located 6 hours north of Anchorage, under the auspices of Head Shliach Rabbi Yosef Greenberg.
They visited a Military Base to bring joy to the soldiers stationed there, and read the Megillah in the local Jewish Center.
While helping a local man to put on Tefillin for the first time, his son came over and said he recognized what Tefillin are because he saw them during his time at a Jewish camp in California he had attended.
The bochurim asked him if he is Bar Mitzvah already, and he replied that his 13th birthday is this week.
Quickly checking the Hebrew date, they discovered that the next day was his actual Bar Mitzvah birthday.
Overjoyed, the bochurim headed to his home the next day – the day they left town, driving out to the middle of the wilderness, and celebrated his Bar Mitzvah with him.
“It was incredible Hashgocha protis that his birthday was the last day of our trip,” the bochurim told COLlive. “Who knows when another Kosher pair of Tefillin would be found in the city?”
Wow very amazing so proud of both of you both of you make the rebbe very proud and happy
Big up Shmulie!!
mazal tov to the Bar Mitzva boy, his family to the bochurim that went and to the entire Jewish people
May this young man grow to be a shining light in Israel, both physically and spiritually
Thank you Rebbe for caring about every Yid
Ashreinu ma tov chelkeinu