Rare Antique Pocket Watch Unearthed at Chabad Youth Camp in Lubavitch, Russia
During the summer vacation, thousands of Jewish children from across the Russian Federation gather at numerous Jewish camps, engaging in immersive Hasidic educational programs led by hundreds of rabbis and emissaries. These camps serve as vital hubs for spiritual growth and community bonding, especially for young emissaries who often are the sole observant Jews in their remote cities. One prominent camp, "Gan Israel - Young Emissaries," located in the pastoral Ramenskaya area near Moscow and managed by Rabbi Avraham Zaks, recently marked a historic moment.
During a visit by Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia and founder of these camps, he was presented with a symbolic gift by Rabbi Lipsker, the head of Moscow's educational institutions: an original red "Pioneer" necktie from a century ago, used in Soviet summer camps that sought to suppress religion, alongside a new green tie bearing the camp's emblem. Rabbi Lazar emphasized to the campers the importance of their mission and the privilege they hold, stating, "The greatest success in our mission is when people see how we care for our children."
The spiritual highlight of the camp was a moving trip to Lubavitch, the cradle of Hasidism. After prayers at the sacred tent of the "Tzemach Tzedek" Rebbe and his son, the "Rebbe Maharash," the campers toured historic sites and participated in an archaeological excavation at the courtyard of the first "Tomchei Temimim" yeshiva and the residence of generations of Lubavitcher Rebbes. During the dig, a stunning discovery was made: a luxurious antique pocket watch and old ruble coins buried for decades. The find sparked joyous Hasidic dancing on the holy grounds.
Rabbi Gabriel Gordon, the Chabad emissary in Lubavitch responsible for restoration and maintenance, examined the items and suggested the watch likely belonged to a member of the Rebbe family, heightening the excitement. Parallel to this boys’ camp, a girls’ camp operates in Nizhny under the dedicated leadership of Rebbetzin Pradi Lerman, with support from local emissaries.
These camps, deeply rooted in Hasidic tradition and connected to the rich history of the movement, leave a lasting spiritual impact on participants. As the children return to their communities across Russia for the upcoming school year, they carry with them a profound spiritual legacy inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who 70 years ago visited the first camp established by Rabbi Moshe Lazar, father of the current Chief Rabbi. Today, the Gan Israel camp network educates hundreds of thousands of Jewish children worldwide each summer.
