For most families, the weeks before Pesach are busy and demanding. Kitchens are scrubbed, cabinets are cleared, and preparations for the Seder begin weeks in advance. The work is exhausting, but it is also filled with anticipation for the Yom Tov ahead.

For families caring for a child with serious illness, those same preparations can feel overwhelming.

Chai Lifeline’s Greater NY region brought the warmth and light of Chanukah to more than 1,000 children, parents, and volunteers this Sunday, December 7, at its annual Chanukah Party. The event took place at iPlay America in Freehold, NJ and created unforgettable moments of joy, unity, and celebration for families impacted by illness and crisis. 

Chai Lifeline is proud to announce the appointment of Rabbi Doniel Freund as Executive Director of its Midwest Region, where he will lead the organization’s vital support services for families confronting pediatric illness and crisis across Chicago and the greater Midwest.

For families facing serious illness and medical crisis, the holiday season can feel especially isolating, and even the smallest joys of Chanukah may seem out of reach.

Chai Lifeline’s annual Toy Drive helps bridge that gap. It is more than giving gifts. It delivers hope, connection, and a sense of belonging, ensuring that children and families navigating illness, crisis, or loss can still experience the light of Chanukah and the warmth of community support.

In the wake of this morning’s devastating accident on the New Jersey Turnpike that claimed the lives of four young yeshiva bachurim from Lakewood and South Fallsburg, Chai Lifeline’s Crisis Intervention Team has been working around the clock to support families, friends, and community members grappling with shock and grief.

As Jews everywhere prepare their homes for Rosh Hashana and Sukkos, families struggling with the challenges of serious illness face an even heavier burden. In the midst of hospital stays, mounting medical bills, and the exhaustion of caring for a sick child, the thought of Yom Tov can feel anything but joyous.

That’s why, in community after community, Chai Lifeline staff and volunteers are working around the clock to ensure no family is left to navigate the holidays alone. 

Every summer, the Deal community extends the same heartfelt invitation to Chai Lifeline children: forget everything else and just be a kid for a day. 

When over 100 children and hundreds of volunteers and community members took them up on that offer, the result was everything Deal Day was meant to be.