After nearly three decades of total disappearance, Rabbi Shlomo Deitsch, shliach to Samara, Russia, managed to locate and bring back an Israeli man who had gone missing, leading to an emotional reunion with his family in Eretz Yisroel.

By Anash.org reporter

After nearly three decades of complete disconnection, a shliach succeeded in locating and helping bring back an Israeli man who had gone missing, leading to an emotional reunion with his family in Eretz Yisroel.

The story begins in 5756 (1996), when Slava Kagan, a resident of Ofakim, traveled to Samara, Russia, to care for his ailing father. But shortly after his arrival, all contact with him was lost. His wife and three young daughters launched a desperate search, filing police reports, appearing in media interviews, and turning to television programs, but no trace of him was ever found.

Years passed with no leads. The family reached out several times to the Jewish community in Samara, hoping for some news, but nothing surfaced. All they knew was that he may have lost his passport, leaving him stranded without any way to reconnect.

Then, just recently, everything changed. Slava’s daughter Linoi came across a social media post from a young man who had encountered a homeless individual in Russia claiming to be from Israel, named Slava. The details matched up, and as Linoi dug deeper and verified a few key facts, she became convinced it was her father.

She contacted the Chabad Shliach in Samara, Rabbi Shlomo Deitsch, who, together with the local community, was able to locate Slava and make initial contact. It turned out that, following a severe emotional and financial collapse, Slava had been living on the streets for many years. Without documents or finances, he could not leave Russia and had been cut off from the world.

With his identity confirmed and all the necessary steps taken, Slava was finally able to return to Eretz Yisroel on a special flight. The reunion with his adult daughters, whom he had last seen as little girls, was deeply emotional.

While his health is relatively stable, he will still need ongoing support and rehabilitation. The family expressed deep gratitude to the shliach and local Jewish community, whose dedication and compassion finally brought Slava home.