Chai Lifeline had the distinct privilege to welcome HaGaon HaRav Reuven Feinstein shlita to the Camp Simcha grounds in Glen Spey, NY, on Thursday, August 4. Rav Feinstein, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Staten Island, received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the campers and staff as he made his entrance into the dining hall, where he delivered words of chizuk and bracha.
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More than 675 cyclists with one shared goal are gearing up for the largest Bike4Chai experience to date. The renowned, premier cycling event benefitting Chai Lifeline will set out from Kalahari Resort in the Poconos to “The World’s Greatest Finish Line” at Camp Simcha in Glen Spey, NY. Riders will celebrate their 165-mile journey with campers, staff, family, and friends.
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This summer, participants from across North America will click into their bikes and lace up their sneakers for an extraordinary and inspiring event: Tour de Simcha 2023, the premier women’s cycling and running event in support of Chai Lifeline.
For Yaakov* and his family, planning for his bar mitzvah celebration had been an effort long in the making. The date and shul had been booked and the food had already been ordered. But as his family recalled, “Hashem decided He had other plans,” and Yaakov would have to mark becoming a bar mitzvah as a patient in Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
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Chai Lifeline Midwest recently conducted a series of comprehensive training seminars for the newest members of its local crisis and trauma response team. The sessions, led by renowned expert Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, Director of Chai Lifeline’s Crisis Services, saw the participation of thirty dedicated men and women volunteers from across Chicago’s Jewish community. The group trainings were generously hosted by Yitzy Weiss at the WiFi Professional Building in Skokie, Illinois.
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Pesach is a time of joy and celebration for many families, but for those impacted by illness, trauma, or loss it can be a difficult and challenging time. Fortunately, Chai Lifeline is there to offer support and make Yom Tov a little bit easier for families in need. From family programming and financial assistance to meal deliveries and car cleanings, Chai Lifeline regions across the country helped alleviate stress and elevate the holiday for thousands of families.
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The Camp Simcha Special Family mourns the recent passing of Dr. Robert Van Amerongen Z”L, medical director of Camp Simcha Special. Dr. Van, as he was lovingly known by campers and staff alike, helped lead the Camp Simcha Special medical program since its inception in 2001. His kindness, warmth, sense of humor, and gentle manner were an inspiration to all who knew him. As we mourn his passing, we also remember Dr. Van’s legacy of caring and compassion, and the impact he had on the lives of so many.
Rivkah Reichmann, LCSW, associate director of Camp Simcha Special, shared her memories of her dear colleague and friend, Dr.Van.
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Chai Lifeline’s crisis and trauma response team continues to grow and expand its network of support in South Florida. In recent weeks, Chai Lifeline Southeast presented a series of lectures, workshops, and events for local rabbis, educators, mental health professionals, and community leaders on various trauma-related topics.
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Following a nationwide search of leading physicians, Chai Lifeline, the leading children’s health support network, is pleased to announce the appointment of Drs. Scott Moerdler and Joe Oved as the new Co-Medical Directors of Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s world-renowned summer program for children with cancer and other blood disorders.
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When 16-year-old Rivka Shotkin of Passaic, NJ, crossed the finish line at the 2023 Miami Marathon, she did so to the cheers of hundreds of supporters. Paralyzed from the chest down after a ski accident in 2021 that left her with broken bones, punctured lungs, and a severed spinal cord, Rivka was surrounded by family and friends running alongside as she pushed her wheelchair to the encouraging chants of her teammates.
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