The annual summer camp “Shluchim Shtetl” for daughters of rabbis from various Jewish communities around the world — supported for fifteen years by the Jewish Community of Dnipro — took place this year in Poland, in the resort town of Ustroń, located in the Silesian Beskids.
The camp, held from July 6 to 21, hosted 80 girls from 16 countries. For many, the journey was far from simple: the girls from Israel had to travel via Larnaca (Cyprus), and the Ukrainian participants faced a challenging route as well. They gathered in Odesa to spend Shabbat together and then traveled as one group to Ustroń.
The main mission of Shluchim Shtetl is to strengthen a sense of unity, solidarity, and shared identity among girls who often live in very small communities, where religious families are few or even singular. The camp gives these young emissaries of the Rebbe — “little princesses” — a chance to express themselves among peers, experience the joy of Chassidus, and be immersed in the light of Yiddishkeit. The camp has been directed for the past ten years by Rabbi Moishe Leib Weber and his wife, Rebbetzin Shoshana.
This year’s camp was unique — more than 60% of the girls attended for the first time, making it truly international. At the same time, it preserved many traditions from its original form established in the Jewish Community of Dnipro. Now the camp has reached a new European scale and comfort level, with luxurious accommodations including pools, a spa area, breathtaking nature, and exciting excursions. Among the highlights: a descent into a coal mine 320 meters underground and a full day at Energylandia amusement park in Zator, between Krakow and Katowice, where the girls explored over 120 attractions.
“There were plenty of games, fun activities, and entertainment, but most importantly — Torah learning, joint programs, a Chassidic atmosphere, and a high level of spiritual inspiration,” shared Rabbi Moishe Leib Weber. “My wife, Rebbetzin Shoshana, became like a mother to each girl — caring for their needs around the clock and ensuring their experience was spiritually meaningful. Together with madrichot from Beit Chana Tsfat — many of whom were once Shluchim Shtetl campers themselves — she created something truly special. Thanks to the support of Krakow’s Chief Rabbi Eliezer Gur Aryeh and the remarkable coordination by Irina Zhuravska, the camp became a powerful, unforgettable event — one we hope brought the Rebbe much nachas.”
Each day of camp was filled with a unique atmosphere: carefully prepared study booklets, thoughtfully planned group activities, mountain hikes, exciting trips, and most importantly — meaningful connection, joy of friendship, and the warmth of a unified, loving family. Unsurprisingly, the girls are already dreaming about their next Shluchim Shtetl gathering, and parents have been sending heartfelt messages of appreciation.
“Every day, every moment, we felt the Rebbe’s blessing and guidance. We knew our mission was to make every girl feel like a little queen — just as the Rebbe wished,” continued Rabbi Weber. “None of this would have been possible without the initiative and ongoing support of Dnipro’s Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki and the help of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, especially our respected patrons: the Pinkus family, Shlomo Chertok, Rabbi Mayer Tzvi Stambler, Yosef Dovid Belyaev, and Menachem Mendel Abramenko — who not only supported us financially but was deeply involved in every detail, always checking in and encouraging us. I also want to thank Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotlarsky from the U.S. and the Meromim Fund for their invaluable assistance. Thanks to the support of these incredible individuals, we created something truly miraculous — a light that will shine throughout the year in the lives of these remarkable young shluchos.”
