By COLlive reporter
For over a month now, hundreds of Tzeirei Hashluchim, as Chabad Shluchim’s kids are called, waited anxiously for news about their beloved annual winter camp.
Held yearly corresponding to the mid-winter vacation in December, two camps run concurrently for 10 days at two camping sites in Oracle, Arizona, located 45 minutes from Tucson.
Boys ages 8-12 enjoy 120 acres of wooded land at the C.O.D. Ranch, while girls ages 7-11 enjoy the beautiful campgrounds at the Triangle Y Ranch.
“How should I describe it? The camp is the second most important thing for the kids after father and mother – especially for ones from remote areas,” says Moshe Pinson of the Shluchim Office.
But that was not going to happen this year.
With the financial meltdown already taking its toll on existing programs, the minimal charge required to be paid by shluchim parents was not enough to cover the costs.
“Until Thursday, 5:00 pm New York time, we were not going to have the boys camp this year,” Pinson told COLlive.com Thursday night.
Brooklyn-based Shluchim Office, and Tucson Shluchim Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Shemtov who underwrite the camp, have been receiving calls and emails in the last month inquiring about the camp.
The office’s director Rabbi Gedalya Shemtov and Pinson resolved not to let the children down, and contacted additional potential donors.
By Thursday they already received pledges from Sholom & Julie Laytin, Dudi and Chani Farkash, Zevi & Leah Drizin, Dovid & Malkie Smetana and Aaron & Judith Weingarten.
Pinson: “But more was needed and a special donor was able to pull through – despite the economic situation – Rabbi Don Yoel & Malka Levy of OK Kosher Labs.”
An email sent out to Shluchim earlier read: “Thanks to the generosity of (these) dedicated sponsors (and many others).. it will be business as usual.”
The directors are now busy with other tasks – finding experienced, chassidishe counselors and staff who will direct the camps.
Head staff of the boys camp will be Zalman Shimon Wolf and Yossi Unsdorfer. The girls’ head staff will be announced in the coming week.
Some 100 boys and 125 girls are expected to participate from around the U.S. and countries like Australia, Russia and France.
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The camp is the best thing that my children have in Arizona. They look forward all year long.
To “Plzzzzzzz”
NO! u stop when ur 12 yrs. old!
Hahahah! This is my last year!
I loooooove AZ camp! I would have been devasted if there wasn’t any camp! THANK YOU TONZZZZ DONOR!
BTW why isn’t there any pictures of girls for the camp?
Can girls age 13 go????
i went for 5 years already its a blast
I ALWAYS look foward to going to SDhlichis Camp- AZ and I LUV IT! any shluchim’s kids who havent gone must!!!!!!!
zal , ur the best
Once again the OK comes through for the shluchim. We shluchim (and anash) should do everything possible to support this organization. They have a team of rabbonim who are outstanding. And are always there to help
May hashem bless Moshe & his family with only revealed goodness!!! He has brought sooooooo much joy to our kids & we are eternally grateful!!!!! HASHEM should bentch you with GEFE”N!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like #7 said: U MAKE THE REBBE PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & of course thank you TO ALL THE FABULOUS DONORS!!!!! MUCH BROCHAS BG”R!!!!!!!
Who are Zev and Leah Drizin? while i have heard of the great baalei tzedakah the Drizin family, I don’t Believe I have heard of Zev and Leah. Please write more on these lovely people.
A true act of caring and loving has beeb shown by both, the donors and the leadership of the Shluchim Office. It is heartwarming to see how both teems got together for the benefit of our future. A real nachas for our dear Rebbe. You shall all be paid back in abundance in “GEZUNT NACHAS UN PARNOSO”
Kol Hakavod.
Keep Going We Love you and we will help you.
my daughter counts the days, literally. When camp finishes, she starts countdown until the first day of the next year.
a very big yshar koach to the shluchim office who work tirelessly for the shluchims kidz amid all trials and tribulations
a shliach from california (2 of my kids will go there be”h)
well done good job
Thank you to all the generous saviors of this camp. As the bubby of junior shluchim living overseas in remote places with no schools or other frum kids, I can’t wait for them to be old enough to go to this camp. I hope it continues every year!