In 1977, Yossi Hodakov was rushed to the hospital unconscious after falling out of a window on Shabbos. This past Shabbos, he returned to the site and recalled his miracle. Full Story
By COLlive reporter
Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, New York, the first Chabad overnight summer camp for boys, hosted another former head counselor as part of the celebration marking the camp’s 70th anniversary.
Visiting this past Shabbos was Rabbi Yosef Hodakov, a teacher at Lubavitch Hebrew Academy in Margate, Florida, who served as head counselor in the summers of 5751 (1991) and 5752 (1992). He was warmly welcomed by the camp’s director, Rabbi Yossi Futerfas.
Rabbi Hadakov is the grandson of Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov, the Rebbe’s Chief of Staff and head of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement which oversees the camp.
It was in that position that the senior Rabbi Hadakov accompanied the Rebbe on his rare visits to Camp Gan Israel and saw the great interest the Rebbe took in the camp. During his sichos in the camp, the Rebbe stated that the summer can instill in children more spirit than during school.
Rabbi Yossi Hodakov shared firsthand testimony from his grandfather and recalled his time as part of the camp’s head staff. One of those summers was a consequential one as the Rebbe suffered a stroke at the Ohel less than half a year earlier on Chof Zayin Adar I.
That year, the camp once again drove up to Crown Heights to be at 770 Eastern Parkway on Chof Av, the yartzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchok Schneerson OBM.
Although the Rebbe was not present in the main shul with the camp, they were told that he was watching them from his room on a screen via live feed. Afterwards, Rabbi Hodakov recalled, they stood outside the window of the Rebbe’s room and sang, “Rebbe, Oh Rebbe, We Need You!” and other camp songs which are still sung today in Chabad camps around the world.
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This past Friday night, between Mincha and Kabbalos Shabbos, Rabbi Hodakov addressed the main camp, sharing memories from his 13 (!) summers at camp, along with words of encouragement and inspiration.
As camp was dismissed to the dining room for the Shabbos meal, many campers stopped by Rabbi Hadokov outside the shul to wish him a good shabbos and introduced themselves. Each camper was more eager than the next to hear about his experiences at camp during his years as a camper, staff member, and eventually, head counselor.
One of those years was a dramatic one. In the summer of 5737 (1977), Rabbi Hadakov was in the Baal Shem Tov building at the entrance of camp. It was on Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Av, just like this year, and he fell out of the window on the second story of the building.
He was rushed to the hospital unconscious, but eventually woke up only to discover that he thankfully didn’t even have a bruise or even a scratch from the fall. He called it an open miracle. Campers and staff were spellbound as he dramatically recounted to them what had happened to him exactly 48 years ago on this date.
Back on the Table
On Shabbos afternoon, Rabbi Hadakov again addressed the main camp. Standing on the table in the center of the dining room, just as he had 34 years ago, Rabbi Hadokov spoke to the campers about the extraordinary merit each camper has in being at camp, especially during the 70th summer.
In the afternoon, following a rest period, the camp’s Bar Mitzva Division (BMD) gathered in their zal to hear Rabbi Hadokov address them with fond memories growing up in the presence of the Rebbe and on the meaning of becoming a tomim. Leaving the bochurim inspired and uplifted.
Later on, a beautiful Farbrengen was arranged for the staff, where Rabbi Hadokov sat with them until the end of Shabbos, sharing the life-changing experience of learning the Rebbe’s maamerim, especially by heart. He spoke about the importance of everyone acquiring a Mashpia for themselves, interwoven with many anecdotes to emphasize the power it holds.
He also addressed the staff concerning the great importance of reporting to the Rebbe. “As we’re guaranteed, the Rebbe will definitely find a way to answer – sometimes at the most unexpected of times,” he said. The farbrengen went until mincha, with the camp’s staff until the end of Shabbos.
Leaving the campers and staff alike inspired to continue on their mission in the Rebbe’s camp and throughout the year.
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