Center for Struggling Children and At-Risk Teens Burned to the Ground

During the joyous Seudah of Motzai Yom Kippur, a powerful, holy, happy and blessed time, a devastating fire consumed the youth center that houses Gan Yisrael Tzfat’s day camp — serving children in Israel’s most economically challenged city — as well as the year‑round center for at‑risk youth.

During the joyous Seudah of Motzai Yom Kippur, a powerful, holy, happy and blessed time, a devastating fire consumed the youth center that houses Gan Yisrael Tzfat’s day camp — serving children in Israel’s most economically challenged city — as well as the year‑round center for at‑risk youth. This is a place that transforms lives every week and offers a summer experience to children who could never dream of anything like it.

Yet this was not a tragedy. It was an unbelievable and open miracle! The picture of the Rebbe, even with the plastic part of its frame completely burnt, remained intact without a scratch. The walls were burned to a crisp, yet the bright picture of the Beis HaMikdash hanging on the wall remained untouched. The flag of Camp Gan Yisrael — a camp that gives local children a summer that 90% of parents cannot afford and serves children from Chabad, Litvish, general Chassidish, and not‑yet‑affiliated homes — remained intact. This is a camp that takes children from homes that cannot afford and changes their lives. The message was clear. The camp will go on stronger than ever. Year round child and teen programs take place there. The set of Sifrei Tanya remained intact, as did the Mezuzos, even as their cases burned to a crisp. The message – this center is blessed and protected and will grow to unbelievably new levels.

The message from Hashem was unmistakable. What has been done until now is only the beginning. Many more lives must be touched and transformed forever. Everything done until now was mere ofar voeifer, simple ashes, compared to what will be done from now on. This is the work that leads us into the Geulah and continues in greater strength even after. This work builds the Beis HaMikdash and is what makes Hashem’s revealed Presence everlasting.

Take part in repairing the lives of children and teens transformed by this center every week. Make a difference in the lives of those who need it most and doubly rebuild their loss.

The center must rise and grow as never before — stronger, broader, and ready to reach every child who needs it, in the unique way only its dedicated staff have done. This is a place where classes, events, and camp experiences reshape futures. And at the holiest moment of the year, Hashem made it clear: the work ahead must surpass everything that came before. Everything done until now was simply afar vo’eifer — mere dust — compared to what must be ahead. Please take part in the Center’s rebuilding. There is nothing more necessary for the youth, children and families that it serves in Israel’s most challenged city.

Rabbi Shamai Gozlan has changed the lives of countless children and teens. Campers describe Gan Yisrael as the best experience of their lives. These are children from homes struggling for basic necessities, let alone the kind of care, joy, and stability the camp provides. Their center is gone. But from its ashes, a new center — the one they truly need — will be built.

Gan Yisrael Tzfat’s history speaks for itself. When Covid struck and Tzfat was hit hard, children who already had so little suddenly had nowhere to go. Rabbi Shamai Gozlan, then a young teacher in his shana rishona of marriage, saw his students’ lives turned upside down. No school. No camp. No support.

He made a decision: this would not be their fate. Gan Yisrael Tzfat Day Camp has run every summer since — one session for boys, one for girls — with 90% of campers coming from struggling homes in which necessities are a challenge. Every child feels the dedication of the center, of Rabbi Gozlan and his staff. Your help is needed to give all of the children who’ve lost their center, their “home away from home” back.

Rabbi Shamai Gozlan, a Montreal native, has always carried a mission to lift up youth and support those who struggle in Eretz Yisrael. His family works day and night to meet the needs of anyone who turns to them. He serves as Mashpia in Tzfat’s Yeshivas Tmimei Darech and lectures in mosdos throughout the city. His life’s mission is to give, nurture, and grow precious souls — and now, he needs our help to rebuild what was lost.

The Tzemach Tzedek brings down in Derech Mitzvosecha (pg. 396 at the bottom) the words of the Alter Rebbe that “noch a sreifa vert men reich — after a fire one is blessed with richness.” The Tzemach Tzedek explains that before the fire there was Chesed — beautiful, but static. The fire is Gevurah, which gives birth to the most powerful Middah and message: Rachamim, Hashem’s mercy, which reaches above all bounds.

The Rebbe gives over the same message in Likkutei Sichos, Chelek Vav, pg. 356: after a fire one should not move, because Hashem’s brachos are specifically in that place. There the Rebbe quotes the Sefer Meah Shearim pg.18b, a Sefer of 50 letters and 50 sayings of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek. The Rebbe Maharash’s message of “LChatchila Ariber – leap over obstacles,” a message championed by the Rabbeim and especially publicized by the Rebbe, speaks for itself.

And this is aside from the fact that the Alter Rebbe states in Tanya, Iggeres HaKodesh (see chapters 4, 8, and 14) that Tzedakah given in Eretz Yisrael has an immediate effect — bringing down tremendous brachos for those who donate and bringing out Hashem’s salvation in the world.

The most fitting lesson was how the picture of the Beis HaMikdash stayed totally untouched on the wall. The message: building a center for at‑risk teens and children from struggling families, this is building a part of the everlasting third Beis HaMikdash. You have the ability to join in and do this. Please click here to be a founding member of the new center and of all that it stands for.

HaMaaseh Hu HaIkar — Action is the Main Thing

Teens who are at risk have lost their center, which hosts classes and activities that change their lives. We must rebuild.

Children from all backgrounds in Tzfat have lost the only day camp that they can afford. No one can let this happen. Let’s build it bigger and better than ever. Your partnership is needed. Your taking part in this is appreciated beyond words.

This was not a devastating fire. It was a miracle. It was a strong call to build and rebuild as never before. We must heed the call.

Join with us as we meet the needs of children of at-risk teens and of those who’ve lost the most. Please take part in giving them a new start and brachos. May you be blessed with all good things always.

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