By COLlive reporter
Photos by Itzik Roytman
Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York is gearing up for a special Shabbos Parshas Ekev in preparation for Chof Av, the yartzeit of the Rebbe‘s father, Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson OBM, the great gaon and mekubal.
Staff and campers will be davening together with the rabbis, Roshei Yeshiva and Mashpiim who are currently in the camp for the annual Global Yarchei Kallah gathering of Torah learning in honor of Chof Av.
The Rebbe deeply cherished – both privately and publicly – the Yarchei Kallah being held in memory of his father. He had even mentioned how it was the fulfillment of his practice of the Mitzvah of honoring one’s parents (even after their passing).
Campers and rabbis will be davening together Kabbolas Shabbos in the main shul of the camp tonight, as well as Shabbos morning Shachris. Rabbis made it a point to personally wish the boys a good Shabbos in a wonderful inter-generational interaction.
Organizing the Yarchei Kallah since its inception is Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, who has headed the camp for the last 68 years and is Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International. Over the years, Rabbi Shemtov had merited to witness the Rebbe taking a personal interest in the proceedings of Yarchei Kallah.
Grasiouly hosting the gathering is the camp director Rabbi Yossi Futerfas and his brother Rabbi Shlomo Futerfas who manages the food services.
On Motzoei Shabbos, a grand Melave Malka will be held in the camp shul, an event that the Rebbe had asked Chassidim to participate and even asked for there to be transportation from Crown Heights for locals to attend it in honor of his father.
It will begin 10:30 PM at the main shul of Camp Gan Israel, 487 Parksville Rd, Parksville, NY 12768 (Exit 99).
The program:
Emcee:
Rabbi Zalman Wilschansky – Rosh Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Morristown, NJ.
Dvar Malchus:
Rabbi Efraim Demichovsky – Mashgiach in the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad, and from the ‘choizrim’ of the Rebbe
Chof Av:
Rabbi Avraham Shemtov – Shliach of the Rebbe, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International and organizer of the Yarchei Kallah
Hakhal:
Rabbi Yitzchok Aizik Landa – Chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak
Yarchei Kallah – an address in English:
Rabbi Shlomo Kaplan – Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Oholei Torah in Crown Heights
Musical program:
Renowned Chassidic singer Levy Falkowitz
