The historic town of Lubavitch has been bustling with visitors throughout the summer, as camps, schools, families, and Jewish communities from across Russia and neighboring countries make their way to the town for davening, learning, farbrengens, and visits to its holy sites.

Among the recent visitors were some 150 children and staff from Gan Yisroel Tzeirei Hashluchim in Moscow, attended by children of shluchim serving in communities throughout Russia and the surrounding countries.

Shliach Rabbi Gavriel Gordon, who oversees Chabad activities in Lubavitch, welcomed the group and spoke with the children about the history of the town and its central place in the development of Chabad Chassidus.

Alongside the organized groups, the steady flow of Jewish visitors has provided numerous opportunities for mivtzoim, including one particularly moving encounter on Rosh Chodesh Elul.

A 70-year-old Jew arrived in Lubavitch with his children while traveling through the area and met Moscow shliach Rabbi Yakim Yagudayev. During their conversation, Rabbi Yagudayev learned that the man had never put on tefillin.

After speaking with him about the mitzvah, the man agreed to put on tefillin and did so for the first time in his life at the age of 70.

Rabbi Yagudayev also spoke with him about bris mila and bar mitzvah, and the two agreed to remain in contact and meet again at a Chabad House in Moscow after he returns home.

Rosh Chodesh in Lubavitch also included minyanim for davening and a Chassidishe farbrengen, as another busy summer of visitors to the town continued into Elul.

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