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Every Friday, outside a kosher grocery store in Pittsburgh, a 15-year-old boy can be found helping Jewish men put on tefillin. Often, he brings along friends from his Jewish high school, teaching them how to encourage others to connect with their Jewish identity.

Just two years ago, that same boy did not even know what tefillin was.

His name is Abi Zablow, and his journey from knowing little about Yiddishkeit to becoming an enthusiastic ambassador of Jewish pride began with a summer at CKids Gan Israel Florida.

Abi’s story began when Rabbi Levi Plotkin, director of CKids Gan Israel Florida, received a call from Rabbi Yitzi and Rebbetzin Miriam Goldwasser of Pittsburgh, who believed Abi would be an excellent fit for camp. Although he had little connection to Yiddishkeit at the time, they recognized his potential. There was just one obstacle: his family could not afford the tuition. Thanks to the generosity of CKids Gan Israel donors, Abi received a scholarship and was able to attend.

When he arrived for the summer of 2023, something special happened. From the very first day, Abi embraced every aspect of camp life. He sang, danced, and davened with focus and excitement, and the counselors quickly took notice. Soon, Rabbi Plotkin’s phone was filled with messages, pictures, and videos documenting Abi’s enthusiasm. “Check out this kid!” “He’s drinking in the Yiddishkeit!” “Unbelievable energy!”

But when the first session ended, his excitement turned to heartbreak. Having registered for only one session, he had to return home while the other campers continued. Still, the experience had left a lasting impression.

Determined to return, Abi did everything he could to make it back for the summer of 2024 – this time for both sessions. Once again, donor-funded scholarships made it possible. He immersed himself in Torah, mitzvos, davening, singing, and dancing, and joined his counselors on mivtzoim during camp trips, putting tefillin on Jewish men and encouraging them to connect with their heritage.

The true impact became clear a few months later, when Rabbi Plotkin received an unexpected message from his brother-in-law in Pittsburgh. “Did you have an eighth-grade kid from Pittsburgh in camp this summer?” he asked. “This kid’s making WAVES!” Attached were photographs of Abi standing outside a local kosher grocery store, surrounded by friends and helping Jewish men put on tefillin. The camper who had joined his counselors on mivtzoim was now leading mivtzoim of his own.

For the CKids Gan Israel team, Abi’s story is a powerful reminder of what one summer in the right Jewish environment can accomplish: it can give a child a sense of belonging, the confidence to lead, and the inspiration to share the joy of Yiddishkeit with others.

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