Once again, and this year better than ever! Summer camps for Jewish children throughout Russia were run in dozens of cities. Directed and organized in top quality by Rabbis and Shluchim who have collectively amassed years of experience. They were joined by hundreds of yeshiva students who invested great effort to ensure that the camps are a smashing success. Throughout the years, these camps have proved their tremendous impact in returning many neshamas to their roots, with many of the campers going on to build Jewish families of their own, homes of Torah and mitzvos.
In the capital city of Moscow, a few camps are run simultaneously in the “Gan Yisroel” campsites which house Yeshivas during the year. While the camps are running, some of the students serve as counselors for the children. They truly know how to understand their campers’ experience, as many of them are former campers of Gan Yisroel who were inspired in camp to go study at yeshiva, and step by step strengthen their Yiddishkeit and all this began with their attending a Jewish summer camp in their childhood.
One of the camps is exclusively for the children of Shluchim and Rabbis throughout Russia. It took place in the Sofrino campus on the outskirts of Moscow. One day the Chief Rabbi of Russia HaGaon Rabbi Berel Lazar, who stands at the helm of the Jewish Summer Camp Project came to visit and get a personal impression. He was greeted with singing and an impressive line-up in the large square on campus. After receiving a tour of the place by the Director of the Camp and Moscow’s Jewish Educational Institutions Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Lipsker, along with the Head Counselors, the Rabbi addressed the children, praising them for their learning and chassidishe behavior which causes a big Kiddush hashem throughout Russia, impacting its many Jews.
Meanwhile, at the other camps which are geared for children who have not yet merited to receive a Jewish education throughout the years, the Rabbis and counselors are doing all that they can to utilize the children’s summer experience to the max, giving them as much Yiddishkeit as they possibly can in a wise and meaningful manner. This includes giving the children a Jewish name, for those who don’t have one yet, at a meaningful and emotional naming ceremony during Torah reading on Monday and Thursday. The children are gifted with tzitzis, those over 13 years old are taught how to put on Tefilin, how to celebrate their Jewish birthday, how to sing Jewish songs, and much more. All this leaves a strong impact on the campers and on their parents. After experiencing such a camp, many of the campers then move on to Jewish Day Schools for the rest of the year.
