Purim is fast approaching! Before you know it, we will be busy getting the kids into their costumes, running to megillah, preparing for the seuda, and so much more. To help keep the day stress-free and truly full of simcha, consider sending some Chai Lifeline Purim cards in lieu of mishloach manos this year. Purim Cards are a great way to support a tzedakah you care about, while including the recipient in the mitzvah—all in a meaningful and convenient way.
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On Sunday, August 21, Chai Lifeline unveiled the newly-renovated Silber and Scheiner Families Medical Center at Camp Simcha in Glen Spey, NY. Hundreds of campers, counselors, staff, and friends were on hand to celebrate the year-long project, which was dedicated by Mendy and Barbara Silber of Lawrence, NY.
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With their largest group of riders to date, Chai Lifeline’s Tour de Simcha fundraising bike ride took place on the country roads of upstate New York on July 19th. The annual all-women’s ride raises funds for Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health organization providing social, emotional, and financial assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses and their families.
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Summer is back for kids with serious illnesses and disabilities Camp Simcha Without Borders finished the first of its summer sessions last week. The local camp is operated by Chai Lifeline Southeast, the local chapter of the children’s health organization providing social, emotional, and financial assistance to families impacted by pediatric illness, crisis, and loss.
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Summer is back for kids suffering from serious illnesses and disabilities Camp Simcha Without Borders in Chicago began the first of its summer sessions last week. The local camp is run by Chai Lifeline Midwest, a children’s health organization providing social, emotional and financial assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses and their families.
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Summer is back for kids with serious illnesses and disabilities Camp Simcha Without Borders began the first of its summer sessions last week. The local camp is operated by Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic, the local chapter of the children’s health organization providing social, emotional, and financial assistance to families impacted by pediatric illness, crisis, and loss.
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On June 1, over 60 high school seniors from Ramaz Upper School visited Camp Simcha’s Glen Spey, NY Campus for their annual Daniella Moffson Day of Service.
read full storyOn 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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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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I was the first employee of Camp Simcha UK (Chai Lifeline’s United Kingdom affiliate) in 2005. I had been working in the Jewish community in London since the early 1980s and was approached by the founder of Camp Simcha here, Meir Plancey. After meeting Chai Lifeline CEO Rabbi Simcha Scholar and seeing the setup in New York I was hooked and it has dominated me and my family’s lives ever since.
One of the things I love about my job is that no two days are alike. Currently, we still have to work from home here, so I have to pull all the strings of the charity from my kitchen table. I have at least three or four Zoom meetings a day and essentially spend most of my time working with my senior managers and lay leaders. I love working together with some incredible people to make so much difference to the children and their families. The more time I get to spend with people, the better.
Every time I see the difference that on one of our incredible Big Brothers or Sisters make for their Camp Simcha Little Brother or Sister, it makes me feel so very special inside. To play my very small part in making that happen is a tremendous zchus [privilege]. One of our parents at a retreat told me, “Imagine how it made us feel to see our children smiling again.” Whenever I see those children smile, I know I’ve made a difference.
