How to Talk to Children About the Texas School Shooting: Guidelines for Parents and Educators

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

Chai Lifeline is devastated by the horrific elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and mourns the tragic and senseless deaths of 19 children and two teachers. If you or someone you know is struggling to cope in the aftermath of this terrible event, we encourage you to contact our crisis support services at 855-3-CRISIS or crisis@chailifeline.org.

Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, director of Chai Lifeline’s Crisis Services, has issued the following guidelines to help parents and educators talk to their children during times of crisis.

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Chai Lifeline NJ/PA & CHOP Host “An Insiders’ Look” into World of Pediatric Medicine for Jewish Community

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

Physicians, medical referral professionals, askanim, rabbanim, and leaders of nonprofit organizations serving communities in the Tri-State area and beyond gathered at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on Tuesday evening, May 24, for “An Insiders’ Look at CHOP,” a special event in collaboration with Chai Lifeline. Guests came from as far as Florida and Illinois to meet and hear from leading physicians and scientists who are pioneering surgical techniques and developing new treatments for childhood diseases at CHOP’s state-of-the-art facilities.

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Off To The Races, Chai Lifeline Kids Attend Miami Grand Prix

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

On May 8, Chai Lifeline kids got to experience the race of a lifetime at this year’s Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix race. A special anonymous donor generously provided four nights at a hotel and highly sought, sold-out tickets to 18 Chai Lifeline kids and their families. The group had a great time watching drivers race by their track-side seats up-close.

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Englewood Community Hosts Chai Lifeline Englewood Friends and Fun Shabbaton

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

On May 13-14, over 125 girls impacted by pediatric illness and dedicated volunteers came together for Chai Lifeline’s annual Friends and Fun Shabbaton in Englewood, NJ. The retreat, organized by Lori Schlakman and Deborah Berger, started off with a pre-Shabbat welcome event at the East Hill Synagogue and continued with davening and a delicious dinner at Congregation Ahavath Torah. On Shabbat morning, Chai Lifeline Warrior Whitney shared her story of strength and resilience and reflected on her experience at Camp Simcha.

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Staff Spotlight: Benny Flusberg, Achim B’Yachad Volunteer Coordinator

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

I first connected with Chai Lifeline in Antwerp where a coordinator called me up and told me he thought I’d be a great volunteer. As I volunteered, I started building these really deep connections with Chai Lifeline kids (some of whom I still keep in touch with until this day). After I got married, I moved to America where someone introduced me to Hershey Katz, the director of Achim B’Yachad, which supports Chai Lifeline’s Chassidic clients… and the rest is history.

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Chai Lifeline Midwest Receives Klepak Foundation Grant to Launch Performing Arts Program, Strengthen Case Management

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

Chai Lifeline, the leading Jewish children’s health support network, has received a grant of $100,000 from the Ralla Klepak Foundation for the Education in the Performing Arts to support the development of new initiatives in the performing arts and bolster its Midwest case management program.

“Ralla Klepak, of blessed memory, understood the powerful role the arts play in bringing joy and hope to the disadvantaged,” said Rabbi Shlomo Crandall, director of Chai Lifeline Midwest. “This grant will enable us to carry on Ralla’s legacy of compassion and care through exciting new programming for children and families in our community.”

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Staff Spotlight: Nechama Miller, Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic Senior Case Manager

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

What drew me to Chai Lifeline was seeing and hearing about so much pain and suffering and not being able to help. My position at Chai Lifeline, allows me to respond to illness and make a difference in the world. As a case manager, my day-to-day is always really different however, I generally spend my time building relationships with both families and volunteers. This is in addition to the general event planning and supporting families, through respite, big siblings programs, helping with errands or meals, etc. My favorite part of the job is connecting with families on a personal level and being able to alleviate their burden, even just a little bit, during a difficult time.

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Staff Spotlight: Hersh Moskovits, Chai Lifeline New York Support Service Coordinator

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Chai Lifeline

I found out about Chai Lifeline back in 1995. I was in Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey as part of a sales job when I saw a Jewish couple. I asked if I could assist in any way but they replied that they were already being helped by Chai Lifeline. That was when I called Chai Lifeline and signed up to be a volunteer.

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A Community of Support: Families Living with Disabilities Connect at Chai Lifeline Retreat

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Administrator

It may not be summer yet, but the Camp Simcha campus was alive with laughter and smiles for Chai Lifeline’s LH Financial Retreat on March 25-27. More than two hundred children and families living with disabilities, as well as Chai Lifeline volunteers and staff, convened for an exciting and inspiring weekend getaway at the Stella K. Abraham Family Center in Glen Spey, New York.

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Staff Spotlight: Zaza Finkelstein, Chai Lifeline Antwerp Coordinator

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Administrator

I first heard about Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha, from my nieces in the USA. About 20 years ago, they were in the Big Sisters program and division heads for Camp Simcha. Their stories of bravery and resilience really inspired me. The idea that these children could not only forget the pain and suffering that was going on in their lives but actually be on top of the world for a couple of weeks was really exciting. The feeling of giving love and raising the quality of life for ill children and their siblings just blew me away. After learning more about Chai Lifeline, I thought since unfortunately there are sick children everywhere, we must introduce Chai Lifeline here in Belgium and across Europe.

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