What the fire could not touch

Painted portrait of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, unburned, with melted plastic draped across it — The Rebbe הרבי Held up by a firefighter the night of the fire

A firefighter in turnout gear holds up the framed portrait of the Rebbe at night, after the fire — The Rebbe הרבי Held up by a firefighter the night of the fire

The framed picture of the Beis Hamikdash that survived the fire, in its gilded frame — The Beis Hamikdash בית המקדש Still hanging on the scorched wall

Fire destroyed about a third of our campus. The picture of the Beis Hamikdash stayed on its wall, and the Rebbe's portrait came out unburned. Now we rebuild — bigger, stronger, safer and more beautiful than ever before.

Help us rebuild Watch what happened

Motzei Yom Kippur

A phone call no one ever wants to hear

As we were leaving the Holy of Holies, we received a phone call no one ever wants to hear: Camp Gan Israel Tzfat was on fire.

A devastating fire destroyed approximately a third of our beloved campus. The rest was heavily damaged by smoke and toxic fumes. Our offices, computers, doors, electrical system and much of the infrastructure were destroyed or severely damaged.

But this is not just a building.

This is home.

Inside the camp the day after the fire. The campers came to help clean up.

What survived

Soot on every wall. Not on these.

When the smoke cleared, the walls were black and much of the building was destroyed. The picture of the Beis Hamikdash was still hanging on its wall. The Rebbe's portrait came out of the fire unburned. And the mezuzos melted on the outside — while the plastic and the parchment inside were untouched.

The framed picture of the Beis Hamikdash hanging on a soot-blackened, cracked wall inside the burnt camp building — The Beis Hamikdash, on the wall the morning after.

The night of the fire: firefighters with the Rebbe's portrait.

Soot-covered hands holding mezuzah cases blackened and melted by the fire, beside a clean, intact scroll tube — Mezuzah cases melted by the fire. The parchment inside, untouched.

The mezuzos after the fire: melted outside, whole inside.

With Hashem's help, we will turn this painful moment into an opportunity to build something even greater — bigger, stronger, safer and more beautiful than ever before.

Inside the camp today

Burnt, and black

A rabbi gestures at a burnt-out desk and window frame inside the camp building — Where the fire tore through.

Charred pages of seforim in the ashes of a burnt shelf — Seforim in the ashes.

A young camper holds up the Camp Gan Israel Tzfat flag in a burnt room — A camper with the camp flag, in what is left of the room.

Camp Gan Israel Tzfat campers and staff together on the stone steps in Tzfat, holding a portrait of the Rebbe

This is home

For the children of Tzfat

For years, Camp Gan Israel Tzfat has been a safe space, a second home, and a place of warmth, joy and belonging for over 100 children throughout the year.

A place where children from all backgrounds come together. A place filled with Torah, Chassidus, friendship, music, laughter and Jewish pride. A place where countless acts of kindness have taken place — and where so many children have found a sense of belonging.

From the flames — a home.
From the pain — a greater future.

The campers helping clear out the burnt room.

Rebuilding together

Our generous partners

Help us rebuild