Camp of Missing Bochur Releases Statement

Michoel Nagel, Director of the Pioneers Camp in Vermont has released a statement about a camper who has gone missing.

Dear parents,

I want to let everyone know that our foremost responsibility is every campers physical and spiritual safety and well being. I am writing this letter to inform everyone that one of our teenage campers was separated from the group on an overnight hike about an hour away from camp. I want everyone to know that part of preparing for any activity involves emergency preparation and training which this group participated in before starting this overnight hike.

As soon as the report came in that a camper had gotten separated from the group the authorities were notified. A full-blown search and rescue operation is underway led by the Vermont State police and in coordination with many local first-responder agencies. Chaverim branches in New York have also been mobilized to help out.

I’ve been in direct contact with the lieutenant leading the rescue operation and he is very confident that the camper will be found. We want to reassure you at this time that all the other campers are safe. We ask the entire pioneers family to daven for Shmuel ben Chasha. At this time our entire camp staff is busy maintaining the camp program. We will keep you apprised of the situation going forward.

Best,
Michoel Nagel

A search effort is underway to find the Yeshiva bochur from Montreal who went missing while hiking on a trail in Killington, Vermont, on Wednesday night.

The 15-year-old is from a Chabad family and was participating in a Pioneers Camp in Vermont.

Please say Tehillim for Shmuel ben Chasha.

Update – 2:15 pm After many inquiries about joining the search efforts, the family of Shmuel has notified that the State Police do not allow civilian volunteers to join the search at this time, as they present further liability and concern for police.

Currently, the State Police are conducting the search with the assistance of Chaverim of Rockland County and Montreal.

Update – 2:30 pm: The Vermont State Police released the following information:

Shamuel is described as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. He was last seen wearing a lime green shirt, tan pants, a black baseball cap and a blue backpack.

Search crews have been working along hiking trails and any corridors near the last point of contact. Agencies involved in the search effort include the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, Killington Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain Club, and the Vermont National Guard.

Anyone with information about Shamuel’s whereabouts or who may have seen an individual matching his description is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks at 802-773-9101.

Shamuel Rabinowitz, 15, of Montreal, Quebec, was last seen about 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Rabinowitz is 5 feet, 8 inches and weighs about 180 pounds with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. He was wearing a lime green shirt, tan pants and a black baseball cap and carrying a blue backpack.

Search crews, including the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, Killington Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, the U.S. Forest Service, the Green Mountain Club and the Vermont National Guard, have been working along hiking trails and any corridors near the last place Rabinowitz was seen.