I’ve said it before and anyone who is or has been affiliated with HASC will readily agree that the counselors who work at the camp are tzadikim. Nevertheless, as I watched our grandson Zev walk down the aisle in his tux, as a member of the wedding party of his former counselor Aaron Mandel to Sarah Lieberman (another HASC counselor), my heart was full and I was emotional.
What I want to do is not concentrate on the joy and happiness Zev felt at this wedding. Rather I would like to discuss the unique personalities and characters of those who choose to work at HASC and their parents. (By the way, Zev has had this honor before.)
In the case of Aaron Mandel, he worked at HASC where he and Zev developed a special bond. Aaron would come to Teaneck (from the Five Towns) to spend time with Zev. Zev became a part of the Mandel family and spent many Shabbosim with them.
Some of you may have seen other HASC campers walking the streets of Teaneck and Bergenfield on Shabbos visiting the many shuls in the area. Many HASC counselors who have busy lives choose instead to offer respite to the families of their campers by inviting them into their homes. If any of them were asked I am sure they would say that by having their HASC friends visiting they gain more than what they are offering to the campers and their families.
Many will think this is a nice thing to do and will immediately say the discomfort that they feel would not allow these types of occurrences to take place in their homes. Others might pretend that it is all good but still cross the street for their own comfort rather than pass someone who looks or acts slightly differently. Fortunately, as I watch this community which in so many cases has grown up with Yachad and HASC, I notice the significant difference in the attitudes of people and their enthusiasm in welcoming those who have these challenges into their lives.
As parents we have choices to make. We can encourage our children to be involved in special needs programs. Friendship Circle and Yachad are always looking for volunteers. Many of us feel the need to line up baseball, soccer and other sports leagues and activities for our kids, but are not ourselves that at ease with encouraging them to work for a special needs organization.
I encourage all of you to take the plunge. Children will be comfortable if they see that their parents are and unfortunately in many cases it is the opposite.
Although it is wonderful that Aaron came frequently to visit Zev despite his busy lifestyle, I know from experience how many kids with special needs there are in our local communities who have no friends and Shabbos, especially when the days are long, is a very difficult time to be alone with no activities going on. Walk up the street or around the corner and visit someone who could use a visitor. They might not even be able to converse with you, they might even drool. You cannot imagine what it means, if to no one else but to the families of these individuals when they see someone making the effort.
As a parent of a former HASC camper whose counselor, Gila Rosenschein, began visiting us in Montreal from Brooklyn when Naama was 8 I have to say that I will never forget her kindness.
To Aaron and Sarah, in the minds of the Kinderlehrer and Glick families you were not only a king and queen on your wedding day, you will continue to be that for our families forever. May you build a bayit ne’eman b’Yisrael and know that you, indeed, are a very special couple.
Nina Glick can be reached at [email protected]
