The search in Vermont for a missing Yeshiva Boy has ended without incident.
15-year-old Shmuel Rabinowitz was spotted in the Killington Vermont forest by a local hiker who had seen a Chaveirim flyer with his photo and information. He is B”H healthy and in good condition. As of 6:00PM, he was approximately 19 miles away from the command center, and rescue personnel were making their way to him. At around 7:00PM he was being escorted by Chaverim members, and around 8:00PM was back with his family.
The crowd of volunteers broke into singing and dancing upon his arrival (see video below).
Rabinowitz is from Montreal, and was a camper in the Pioneers Camp in Vermont. The last contact with him was at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2019.
A massive deployment from Chaverim of Rockland just took place, with more than 20 volunteers left Monsey on Thursday morning. They were heavily equipped with all types of search and rescue equipment including state of the art command center, with high-end radio communications.
Flatbush Hatzolah dispatched a vehicle with 4 volunteers, loaded with equipment. Chaveirm of Montreal Tosh went, Lakewood Chaverim dispatched 20 volunteers with equipment and ATV’s, Bikur Cholim of Lakewood sent volunteers as well as Montreal Hatzolah. COMMSAR from NY deployed with a crew of search personnel and a command center.
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The Vermont State Police released the following information earlier this morning:
Shamuel is described as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. He was last seen wearing a lime green shirt, tan pants, a black baseball cap and a blue backpack.
Search crews have been working along hiking trails and any corridors near the last point of contact. Agencies involved in the search effort include the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, Killington Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain Club, and the Vermont National Guard.
Anyone with information about Shamuel’s whereabouts or who may have seen an individual matching his description is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks at 802-773-9101.
Michoel Nagel, Director of the Pioneers Camp in Vermont has released a statement about a camper who has gone missing.
Dear parents,
I want to let everyone know that our foremost responsibility is every campers physical and spiritual safety and well being. I am writing this letter to inform everyone that one of our teenage campers was separated from the group on an overnight hike about an hour away from camp. I want everyone to know that part of preparing for any activity involves emergency preparation and training which this group participated in before starting this overnight hike.
As soon as the report came in that a camper had gotten separated from the group the authorities were notified. A full-blown search and rescue operation is underway led by the Vermont State police and in coordination with many local first-responder agencies. Chaverim branches in New York have also been mobilized to help out.
I’ve been in direct contact with the lieutenant leading the rescue operation and he is very confident that the camper will be found. We want to reassure you at this time that all the other campers are safe. We ask the entire pioneers family to daven for Shmuel ben Chasha. At this time our entire camp staff is busy maintaining the camp program. We will keep you apprised of the situation going forward.
Best,
Michoel Nagel
Killington is a town in the Green Mountains of central Vermont, around 4 hours from Monsey, NY. It’s known for the Killington and Pico Mountain downhill ski resorts. The area’s many hiking paths include the Thundering Falls Trail, which leads to a tumbling cascade. The long-distance Appalachian and Long trails both cut through the town. West of Killington, old-growth hardwood trees, including sugar maples and beeches, fill Gifford Woods State Park.
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28 Responses
We should all Give Tsedaka to the Pushka of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness or put it aside until you find the Pushka.
God willing we will hear goodnews.and thank you to all the volunteers For the selfless act of kindness.
Shmuel ben chasha
say ‘Reb Binyomin….’.
I know for a fact from past experience that it works for finding people also.
I hope for safe return of the missing child.
I also hope that they have requested the help of the army, National Guard, local and state police forces…? they also have specialized teams out there.
We dont know if 20 Chaverim are sufficient… but nowhere does it state in this article that there is additional help on their way, or even requested.
B’ezras HASHEM, the kid will be fine.
Nothing to panic about.
The kid is 15, has experience being in the woods, it’s summer time (not winter), he’s in Vermont, not deep in the wilderness, in relatively easy terrain, plenty of water around, and never far away from lots of vacation homes and towns.
Hikers get lost, spend the night in the woods, and come out during the daytime all the time.
And if he has an ankle injury, and can’t walk, he will be found quite easily.
Really not a big deal.
Minor detail, but the boy is not from the massive Lubavitch camp in Montreal. He is from Montreal and part of a travel camp based out of Vermont.
Shlomo 2 , I am sure if it was your son you would feel a little differently. What a heartless individual you are.
shlomo 2, who needs comment sense when panic PR get much more attention
I know that everything is bashert. And Iy”h he will be found safely and healthy 100%….
But come on!
We have to Strom our communities and yeshivas and camps.
They get so much funding and money from our government, why can’t they invest 5 to 10 thousands dollars even less for a moised with less children, for GPS tracking devices… The cheapest ones shouldn’t cost more then 5 6 dollars a piece…. It could save our children’s lives……
Just like we have campaigns for tzdakah and for not leaving kids in hot cars. We should have campaigns for GPS devices for our kinderlach….
I’m not a asken but I’m sure some askunem will see this post and someone should do something about it right away….
If anyone has an I idea I would be gladly willing on helping out such a campaign.
I can be reached at
[email protected]
Thanks
How much would it cost to give each hiker a DISTRESS SIGNAL BEEPER and LIGHT BEACON EMITTER to be used in case of emergency. Just used once would pay for all the expences in just one search mission. Is there no organization that can sponser this and lend it or rent it out for safer adenvdtures!
Shlomo 2, I’m not sure if you are just trying to have a positive and optimistic outlook, but I happen to disagree with you. These situations can quickly turn into life or death. You casually forget to mention that (God Forbid) there are abductions, and situations from strangers which aren’t so generous, as well as steep cliffs, lakes, and rivers. The seriousness of the matter should be looked upon as vital and as as big deal.
To Edenzmom :
You missed a couple of points in the article.
1)Search crews have been working along hiking trails and any corridors near the last point of contact. Agencies involved in the search effort include the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team, Killington Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain Club, and the Vermont National Guard.
2) he’s hardly a child he’s 5foot 8,180 pounds and 15 years old.
Bh he was iust found
FOUND ! FOUND!
Some people are saying he’s been found, BH!!
Sammy48 & CC – Instead of spending people’s money – how about Not going to these type of trips? Even Lakewood has a few parks.
If it’s absolutely necessary to keep up with the Joneses, how about making a buddy system?
E/o is responsible for their partner. Unlikely incidents like this would occur!
מי כעמך ישראל Thank you for all those volunteers
To Git Meshige:
It’s heartless to speak from common sense and actual knowledge of what the outdoors is like?
And if it were my son (or myself) lost near Killington Vermont, I wouldn’t be calling in mobile command centers and ATVs from all over the northeast either.
It sounds like this is a wonderful camp program, giving the boys the type of experience that will teach them the kinds of skills to allow them to respect and enjoy the outdoors.
and with all these machers who found him? a local who went on a hike! at least they enjoyed Vermont
@commoncents Google it you’ll see that that a distress signal beacon cost over 300 dollars a unit.
As for a LIGHT BEACON EMITTER, I think most wilderness camps are not to stingy to provide a FLASHLIGHT
I agree with common sense 100% did not want to post before because it wasn’t the time but I don’t get it this is something that happens again and again the camps should own fluorescent vest and have the stuff that was suggested in the comment.This is something they do every summer and unfortunately he is not the first time in a situation like this happen.
Baruch Hashem!!! They found him!! Chasdei Hashem!!
Wow!!! chasedei Hashem
I don’t quite understand how these fellows keep on getting lost. What’s happening at the front of the line and the back of the line? Doesn’t the back of the line count heads? Doesn’t the line stop when someone needs to relieve themselves? These are all basic procedures. Why didn’t the lost boy use his whistle and stay in place? I have so many questions everytime something like this happens. I truly wonder how well these counselors are trained and how many hours training these young men get before they are taken for overnights.
And yes if locator beacons can help, rent them at the ranger station (if offered) or find a local outdoor shop that rents them. They are not a rarity, but remember they don’t take the place of established skills and supervision.
I don’t quite understand how these fellows keep on getting lost. What’s happening at the front of the line and the back of the line? Doesn’t the back of the line count heads? Doesn’t the line stop when someone needs to relieve themselves? These are all basic procedures. Why didn’t the lost boy use his whistle and stay in place? I have so many questions everytime something like this happens. I truly wonder how well these counselors are trained and how many hours training these young men get before they are taken for overnights.
And yes if locator beacons can help, rent them at the ranger station (if offered) or find a local outdoor shop that rents them. They are not a rarity, but remember they don’t take the place of established skills and supervision.
B”H he was found! a big yasher koach to anyone who went up there to help search for him, but the dancing couldve been a little bit more leibadik.
Honestly, by the looks of the video and picture of the kid, he looked like he was having a blast in the woods. He was going to a pioneer wilderness camp which is advertised as preparing campers for rugged outdoor situations. Seems like a mountain was made of a simple frolic.