Six children at the “Gan Israel YEKA” summer camp in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, were circumcised in a joyous ceremony.
The Jewish community of Zhytomyr is accustomed to hosting circumcisions from time to time—whether for children, teenagers, or even adults. But a ceremony of this scale, with six children in a single day, is something no one in the long-established community could recall.
Taking place under the shadow of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the camp celebrated this extraordinary milestone for children born to Jewish families and educated at the Or Avner children’s village, which also provides a home for Jewish children without family support.
The circumcisions were held in an uplifting atmosphere, led by the city’s rabbi and Head Shliach, Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, together with local shluchim. The emotional ceremony was accompanied by the educational staff, medical team, and the boys’ friends, who cheered and shed tears of joy.
The event became the highlight of the summer camp, organized in partnership with Chabad’s JRNU network and staffed by energetic bochurim from the United States and other countries. “We’ve been here for 30 years and have never experienced such an emotional event,” said Rabbi Wilhelm.
“This is a rare moment for us,” he added. “Six children in one day, in the heart of war-torn Ukraine, choosing circumcision—it’s truly remarkable. This is not only a physical covenant, but something far deeper. Each child felt a profound personal connection to his Judaism, and it came from within.”
The Zhytomyr summer camp is one of many across Ukraine and the former Soviet Union, uniting thousands of Jewish children each year and offering them an uplifting, educational, and strengthening summer experience—even in the most difficult times of war.
All down to the councillors themselves who give up everything to allow each and every one of these neshomas to have the must incredible summer experience!
These counselors aren’t just legends, they’re the definition of selfless. They don’t just give up their summers, they give up sleep, comfort, and even their own money to make camp happen. Forget “tips” around there, the counselors are the ones fundraising so the kids can have a summer. That’s not called a summer job. That’s called caring, heart and soul.
The biggest legend in chabad
A camp like Yeka doesn’t just “happen” it’s held together by nonstop work behind the scenes. Responsibility, pressure, finances, emergencies, they all land on his shoulders, and he somehow makes it look easy. If people only knew half of what he juggles, they’d realize just how much of a legend he really is. Credit never comes his way but camp wouldn’t survive without him. Over and over, he’s the one quietly making sure every piece falls into place. Campers laugh, staff dance, memories are made, but Ari is the reason it all runs smoothly. Kudos to the man behind the… Read more »
These counslers are really the best people out there
They put the kids first and themselves second
LEGENDS!!!!!
Time after time taking camp yeka on his shoulders
leading and inspiring campers and counsellors alike!
Yerachmiel bogan is a little known yet extremely key figure in or Avner community village and if not for him and his wife Sheina none of this would have been possible