By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shalom Ross
A new Sefer Torah began being written on Friday for Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York, the first Chabad overnight summer camp.
The entire camp—campers, Bar Mitzvah Division, staff, and administration—gathered outside the main shul for the writing of the first letters.
Appropriately, the Torah is being dedicated to the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, who took a personal interest in the camp. The Rebbe visited its two previous locations, and the Rebbetzin visited the current one.
Writing the very first letter was the camp’s Executive Director, Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, legendary Shliach and Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, followed by the camp director, Rabbi Yossi Futerfas, and his brother, Rabbi Shlomo Futerfas.
In a letter to parents, Rabbi Yossi Futerfas noted that when the Rebbe first spoke about the idea of establishing Camp Gan Israel at the Farbrengen of Shavuos 5716 (1956), the Rebbe compared “Gan” to the “Gan” — 53 — parshiyos of the Torah, highlighting that each child is a letter in a Sefer Torah scroll.
Staff members and select campers were honored with writing letters, guided by Rabbi Shmuly Klein, a sofer stam who also serves as the camp medic.
Speaking to the camp about its significance was Rabbi Levi Garelik, Rov of Beis Shmuel Chabad Congregation in Crown Heights. He spoke vividly about the holiness of the Torah and its connection to each Jew, especially children.
The Sefer Torah is expected to be completed by next summer, accompanied by a special Hachnosas Sefer Torah celebration. Parents and alums will also be invited to participate.
Special guests at this occasion on Friday were the esteemed participants of the annual Yarchei Kallah gathering of rabbonim, roshei yeshiva, and mashpiim from around the world which the camp has been hosting for 51 years.
The coordinator of the Yarchei Kallah Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin invited each rabbi to write a letter. He shared that this is the first Torah being written specifically for the camp to honor its 70th anniversary.
Another noted participant was Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the Rebbe’s mazkir and Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel.
It will be completed by next summer.
Parents and past campers and staff are asked to contribute to this historic project by purchasing letters for your children in this Sefer Torah – click here
