I would like to share a few memories of the loving and brave Chava Willig Levy, z”l. Chava and I grew up together from the time we were both 3 years old and I experienced first-hand the journey that she selflessly endured.

Let’s roll back to the times of the summer months in the Catskills. My parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Harold Hirschman, z”l, and Chava’s family developed a strong relationship from spending summer vacations together in the mountains. It was a relief to get away from the summer heat and enjoy the cool breezes in Sullivan County, with its vibrant social life, mutual family bonding and welcoming, open front doors for two months. Anyone who experienced the days of bungalow life—with activity nights, the same movie was watched by all under the one roof in the ‘casino,’ or sporadic phone calls received with a loud announcement to take the call in a remote phone booth akin to the ‘Superman Phone Booth’ on the ‘premises’ —will understand. bungalow colony days had their own syntax that enabled strong bonding between families. In Swan Lake’s Yukelson’s bungalow colony, we spent a particular summer that was part of the milestone occurrence that changed Chava’s life forever.

In the summer of 1955 before the Salk vaccine was widely available to combat polio, we were sitting around a colony barbecue enjoying every minute of the evening, when Chava started complaining about severe aches and pains. Rabbi and Mrs.Willig were left with no choice but to immediately call an ambulance to come quickly. The sound of the ambulance sirens still vividly rings in my mind today. As a young child, who was close in age to Chavi, I was bewildered and upset—where was my friend going? Days later, Chavi was brought back from the hospital, sitting in a wheelchair in a brace, now paralyzed from the polio virus.

Although she returned in her wheelchair, over time we and the other children in the colony accepted and realized that Chavi was still the same Chavi. She always carried herself as the life of the party and was in tune to always singing and chair dancing while making all around her feel in a festive mood. She assumed her role stoically, and with the help and support of the beautiful, notable Willig family whom our family always adored, Chavi matured into a dynamic, accomplished woman.

One day years later, while reading the Ladies Homes Journal, which was the leisure magazine of the times, I saw an article Chavi wrote about her journey of success. Yes, I call it success. She became a truly accomplished woman and married the love of her life. Together they enjoyed the nachas of beautiful children.

Chavi assumed the role of becoming “independently” dependent, advocating for the disabled within a mainstream approach. Chavi defied the doctors’ prognosis, professing that she couldn’t and wouldn’t be able to function, yet she persevered with flying colors. As an award-winning author, writer, speaker, international lecturer, influencer and role model, Chavi became a true inspiration to all on many levels.

To this day, I remember (and always will) the incident that resonates with the pride and admiration, and best describes how we feel about how Chavi endured. In our recent pandemic during the shocking covid years, the vaccine objectionists were particularly poignant to me because their platform was to resist the vaccine distributed for a cure and ultimate eradication. I reflected and reminisced that Chavi was denied that precious opportunity and had to succumb to a virus on the heels of the polio vaccine which was only available a few years right after her contracting the disease.

Chavi never asked, “Why me?” She only asked Hashem, “Am I doing enough to make an impact as a survivor, grateful every day for the life Hashem gave me?”

Chavi, I remember and always will remember vividly who you were. I highly recommend reading Chavi’s memoir, “A Life Not With Standing,” in which her enthusiasm, spirituality and love for Judaism was portrayed throughout, with a strong appreciation for the quality and meaning of life—so dear to Chavi despite the challenges she continually faced.

Ruby Kaplan is a realtor licensed in both New Jersey and New York. Visit www.rubybobbyhomes.com  for more info or email her at [email protected].