School, clothes, sports and trips are the ordinary topics of conversation for adolescents. Unless you are a boy or girl with a serious medical issue. And you wish, more than anything, that you could have those conversations instead of talking about doctors, medicine and pain.
For two weeks each summer, seriously ill Jewish children get a taste of what other children take for granted at Chai Lifeline’s Camp Simcha. And the appetizer is a “Friends n’ Fun weekend, a community Shabbaton that recreates the camp atmosphere, filled with companionship, davening and activities. The girls are having their two-day Shabbaton this weekend, May 14-16 in Englewood and the Shabbaton for boys will be June 5-6 in Teaneck, followed by a concert Motzei Shabbos with the singing group Eighth Day open to the entire community.
Chai Lifeline serves children suffering from cancer and other medical conditions in the U.S., Canada, England, Belgium and Israel. Camp Simcha, for children with cancer and other blood disorders, and Camp Simcha Special for children with chronic medical issues, hold two week sessions for boys and girls providing them with outdoor activities in a medically supervised, wheelchair accessible environment in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
Faigy Yudovsky, Chai Lifeline’s Director of Volunteer Services for the New York region, said the kids who go to Camp Simcha experience “magic” two weeks of the year. “They have challenges, medically, physically and socially, and camp gives them a chance to be with friends who have similar issues. Camp Simcha adds to their self-esteem; it makes them feel normal, like everyone else. The Shabbatons give them a chance to meet up with friends and relive the magic.”
About 45 girls with cancer or chronic illnesses, age 13 and up, will be staying with host families in Englewood and going to Ahavath Torah for davening and activities. Rivka Goldin, daughter of the shul’s Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, is coordinating the program along with volunteers Lori Schlakman, Deborah Berger and Arlene Horowitz. Goldin has invited girls of similar ages, and their mothers, to join them at meals. There will be a festive Oneg on Shabbos day and a dance party at night.
Goldin, now a Camp Simcha Division Head, has volunteered with Camp Simcha for nine years. She took the initiative four years ago to make what had been a small Shabbaton at one house into a community wide program. “The kids wait all year for their time at Camp Simcha. I wanted to take some of the magic from the summer and spread it throughout the year.”
The Shabbatons also give communities a chance to witness the impact that friendship and a supportive environment have on children facing multiple medical, social and emotional challenges of illness, added Melanie Kwestel, Chai Lifeline Director of Communications. Each child stays with a counselor at a home in the area, with medical personnel housed nearby. Hosts say they have little to do except provide accommodations and they are happy to help.
Dr. Larry and Sherri Shemen have hosted children for the four years Englewood has held the Shabbaton; this year they are hosting six girls and their counsellors. Sherri Shemen said the Shabbaton is not only a gift for the children but a much needed reprieve for their families. And opening her home to children from Chai Lifeline has encouraged her own children to help out. “The kids are incredible and the counsellors are a special group. They have had a big impact on our lives.”
Judy Braun agreed to host children for the Chai Lifeline Shabbaton when Rivka Goldin first called four years ago. “My son, who is now 29, was a counsellor at Camp Simcha for two summers and it was very inspirational. Hosting children for the Shabbaton is a natural opportunity for us to be able to give to the Camp Simcha community.” Braun learned how hard the counselors work from watching her son. “They are always ‘on’ Braun said. “They are there to make sure the campers have the best Shabbos and the best summer of their lives.” Her daughter will be returning from her seminary year at Midreshet Moriah and spend the summer working at Camp Simcha Special.
The boys will be having their Shabbaton June 5-6 at Keter Torah in Teaneck. On Shabbos afternoon two homes will be gathering places for the kids with games and activities. Faigy Ort has coordinated the Friends n’ Fun weekend for the past two years, since her daughter Sari z’l” passed away. “My daughter loved Camp Simcha and the Friends n’ Fun Weekend in Memory of Sari Ort was developed in her name,” Ort said.
The Eighth Day concert following the Shabbaton will begin at 9:45pm. For more information, contact Faigy Ort at 201/960-7758 or [email protected].
By Bracha Schwartz
