Dylan Selick, a 12-year-old boy from Tenafly, joined Camp Gan Israel at Alpine Scout Camp this summer and Camp Director Rabbi Yossi Katz realized that he was having a birthday. Dylan would be turning 13 the very next day.

Rabbi Yossi called Dylan’s parents and learned that the family did not have plans for a bar mitzvah as they were not involved with any Jewish activities other than camp.

Rabbi Yossi then acted fast, invited his father to join the bunk at camp for a special bar mitzvah, and helped Dylan put on tefillin for the first time. They had a party at camp with dancing and a delicious mazel tov cake to celebrate the simcha. Mazel tov!

By Elizabeth Kratz