Camp Blog

On Thursday, we went to visit Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, who is one of the greatest Torah leaders of our generation. We lifted each of the boys and carried them up  a flight of stairs to the Rabbi’s apartment. Everything is possible with Chai lifeline. There, they received blessings and words of strength from the Rabbi. The Rebbetzin came down to meet with the moms and the girls. She was so incredibly warm and sweet, and gave each woman a blessing and a kiss.

We then went to visit Rabbi Aron Leib Shteinman. The Rabbi is formerly the Rosh Kollel (“head”) of the Ponevezh Kollel, he is a backer of the Kupat Ha’ir charitable organization, and has written many scholarly works on the Talmud. He blessed all of the participants as well.

From Bnai Brak, We traveled  to Mini Israel, which is a model representation of all of Israel’s famous buildings and landmarks. Those in the group from New York and Chicago could only chuckle as they saw two trucks of snow being delivered to the Hermon section of the site!

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Today we did something that has probably never been done before; it was truly a miracle and another dream come true. Our day started with a journey to Tzfat. Accompanied by a guitarist, we sang and danced through the busy narrow streets of the old city. Onlookers joined in or watched in amazement as the parade of wheelchairs walked by. After a break for a picnic lunch, a visit to the artist’s colony and wine factory, everyone was re-energized and then the unthinkable took place.

There is a custom to go to the mikvah of the Ari HaKadosh and to visit the grave sites of some of our great sages, and our boys did not want to miss this opportunity.  Leave it up to the tenacity, perseverance, and creativity of the staff to turn that dream into a reality.  Now for an explanation; it’s all great dunking in a FREEZING cold mikvah, but it’s about 150-200 steps down from the street. How were we going to get these boys down there?  It is not exactly wheelchair accessible! The staff decided to carry the boys one by one on a stretcher down to the mikvah. They borrowed 2 army-type stretchers from the local Magen David Adom, strapped the boys in, and carried each one of our boys down the winding stairs to the mikvah. It was a scary but amazing sight to see. As they reached the mikvah, campers and counselors rejoiced with singing and dancing to celebrate the amazing accomplishment. Just when we thought we accomplished it all by putting these teens on camels, giving them the freedom of floating in the Dead Sea, climbing Masada…

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Thank you to all those who participated in the 2011 Team Lifeline Miami Marathon for going the distance for Chai Lifeline’s kids! This year’s Miami team was 300 runners strong and raised 1.3 million dollars! To find out more about Team Lifeline, visit www.teamlifeline.org.

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The magic continued as we travelled passed Ma’aleh Adumim back in time to Erez Bereshit. We met Damesec Eliezer and Avraham Avinu, sat in Avraham’s tent, and baked pita on a fire. The highlight of today was when each of our teens got to ride on a camel. It was a scene not to be believed. Teens with no use of their legs were sitting on camels. Tears rolled down the faces of our Moms, who could never have imagined that they would see their kids experiencing Israel and having fun like ‘normal teenagers.’

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From there we travelled to an army base, the elite Kfir unit of the IDF, which was very inspiring. Learning how the soldiers train, live, and sacrifice to protect the Jewish people was eye-opening. The soldiers spoke to our group about their daily schedule, responsibilities, and what makes their unit unique.

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We accomplished things on this trip that the teens, in their wildest dreams, could have never imagined. The singing, dancing, energy, and liveliness that we bring wherever we go is felt by all.

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By Rabbi Shlomo Crandall, Director Chai Lifeline Midwest

The day started on a spiritual high as we went to pray at Kever Rachel.  As we were waiting for the bus to pick us up, some of the teenagers took pictures with the soldiers. Imagine this: a Klausenburger chassid standing next to a chayal.  Imagine this: another chassidic boy wearing the soldiers beret, holding his walkie-talkie and taking a picture with him.  Where else would you see this happen? The mutual respect was apparent as each looked at other in amazement wondering who had the more difficult challenges.

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Next, we were Off to the Kenesset where we were treated with VIP status.  The kids got to sit in on a session on the second tier level reserved only for foreign  dignitaries. We were then treated to a short tour and a sit down lunch. Everything is about timing. During lunch we were greeted by the Vice Prime Minister and leader of the Shas Party Eli Yishai, Meir Porush, Moshe Gaffni of the Agudah, and the number two person in Kadima. What was touching about the many politicians we met was their diversity. Put another way the Kenneset is really a microcosm of the Jewish People. It has the one advantage that people have to talk to each other.

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Our next stop was to the Kotel and the Chain of Generations Center which is situated alongside of the Kotel. We split up into 3 groups because only 3 wheelchairs could go in at a time. In my group were the 3 big boys. As we descended, we entered a relatively small elevator. The chair was too big for one of the boys to continue; We were not going to go back. The boy that was more mobile and in a regular wheelchair was taken first, and put on the floor, while the wheelchair was taken back to the other boys to use to go up the elevator. Nothing is impossible.

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By Rabbi Shlomo Crandall, Director Chai Lifeline Midwest

Much needed rain wouldn’t stop us as we loaded ourselves onto the bus for a day to be spent in the Dead sea and Massada. We at  Chai lifeline are  known for making the impossible- possible.   And today, we accomplished just that.

Today we went to Masada.  What an incredible sight.  We loaded ourselves on 2 cable cars and took a ride up the mountain.  For all of you who have been to Masada you know what it’s like up there.  We took the hilly path and took a nice long walk up and down the hills with 11 wheelchairs.  The strong winds and light rain made the pushing just a little harder.  What a sight to see how girls and boys pushed those wheelchairs and how everyone helped one another.  There were times that 2 people took either handle of the chair to push.  How amazing it was.

Then off to the Dead Sea with girls on one side and boys on the other. On the girl’s side, it was fun fun fun , and utter relaxation.  Mothers and daughters  were  floating in the Dead Sea.

On the boy’s side, the floating in water took on a totally different dimension. Never in my life could I have imagined what I witnessed with my own eyes.  Teenage boy’s that cannot walk suffering from a host of illness were carried in their bathing suits and floated with their legs stretchedstreched out. They did this, and lied in the sun just like any other healthy teenager.  It is hard to know what they were thinking in those few moments, but I can tell you the joy that was so apparent in their faces. I only wish (my wish) that anyone that is reading this blog could have shared that moment with me.  “Making the impossible a reality”

My hat goes off to Ari Dembitzer for really pushing the envelope and creating moment of a lifetime for 5 teenage boys. There are really no words. Kids can’t walk and they are floating in the sea supported only by salt water, and the Almighty himself. All I can is is WOW!

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The Wish at the Wall Shabbos in Jerusalem…one word: WOW!

How can one describe an experience so surreal?

Driven to the Kosel before Shabbos began, we were mesmerized by the usual Friday night tumult that greeted us. Standing closely together, we were spiritually uplifted as familiar tunes of Kabbalos Shabbos began. Although we were amongst so many others who were engrossed in their own prayers, and grouped prayers, when we began, our energy was magnetic as so many were drawn to us. The unity of brotherhood was tangible as the songs of our Camp Simcha Counselors merged with the holiness of the Kotel. Tear-filled eyes and heartfelt prayers followed as we made our very first Wish, at the Wall.

The way home was a scene like no other. Envision 13 wheelchairs being pushed up the hills (mountains) of Jerusalem and across the cobblestone roads that our ancestors once walked. Through the Old City of Jerusalem, counselors rolled wheelchairs, in what was a two-person job; And then…counselors pushed counselors who rolled wheelchairs, in what was a two-person job. Constant rotation, beads of sweat, and heavily breathing counselors – boys and girls alike; campers, smiling from their adventurous bumpy, windy, and jolting rides; and parents who’d had the opportunity to walk home with one another; arrived at our beautifully situated hotel, overlooking the ancient walls.

Shabbos flew by as we ate, sang, danced, laughed, and most of all, enjoyed one another’s company. We molded together by the beginning of our shared experiences. Shacharis, with the usual harmonies was inspiring as our campers received aliyahs and kibbudim. After the lively Shabbos day meal, a beautiful historic walk preceded our intimate Shlosh Seudos, where each participant had an opportunity to introduce the person they are travelling with. It was incredibly empowering for both parent and child to hear the one another’s thoughts.

As Shabbos came to a close, holiness carried over as we made our way to the homes of some pious Rabbanim, Reb’ Nosson Tzvi Finkel and the Tulner Rebbe. We received words of courage and magnificent blessings.

The night winded down after we enjoyed a pizza and ice cream Melave Malka. We went to sleep anticipating what the week has in store for us.

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Picture this: Ben Gurion International Airport – A thoroughfare for busy travelers, tired from hours of travel and from security shoe removals, anxious to finally arrive at their destination. Thursday night the airport was operating as usual, with no clue with what was about transpire in just a few hours. Beginning at 3:30 in the morning, some not having slept the whole night – others catching a glimpse of shut eye – 35 energetic, spirited, enthusiastic (and wild) male and female Camp Simcha counselors, studying in Israel for the year, spread the Simcha joy to all passengers regardless of who they were, receiving many different reactions – many laughs, some blessings, and a hint of a smile from even the most serious of patrons. It was then that we, the group that had boarded the plane, deboarded the plane, reboarded the plane during the past 48-hours, finally emerged. Tired, worn out, (and smelly), it was incredible what hit us. A “Camp Simcha Welcoming” in the Holy Land of Israel! If anyone was still groggy from our adventures of traveling…this sure did the trick. Costumes and signs, singing and dancing, food and drinks, we knew we had arrived to our final destination. We knew we arrived to our homeland.

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Wish at the Wall: Here we come!

Last Thursday, thirteen Camp Simcha Special teens living with severe chronic illnesses arrived in Israel for an amazing ten day journey, Wish at the Wall. Each teen is accompanied by a parent who will be able to share in the excitement and joy associated with Camp Simcha Special. Undeterred by the blizzard on Wednesday night, the trip proceeded with only a slight delay that included blow-up mattresses and a gourmet breakfast in JFK (because at Camp Simcha, we even do delays in style!).

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Look who’s talking about Wish at the Wall:

JTA
The Huffington Post
The Lakewood Scoop
Haaretz
Times Union
Vos iz Neias

Stay tuned for more updates from our group at Wish at the Wall!

Dear Ari & Chai Lifeline,

Where do I begin?

The Magic of Chai Lifeline… The Magic of Camp Simcha!

Some days are really hard and my kid is having a rough time…that’s just one moment when the magic happens…I send a text or e-mail to a counselor and poof instant MAGIC! This guy calls my son from Israel to make him feel better, another video chats from the east coast, while yet another is instant messaging him on Facebook and I see the magic as my sons face lights up and he is laughing and then a smile and happiness becomes contagious and spreads through our house…where just a few minutes before their was sadness, frustration and and heart breaking misery. That’s a glimpse of the magic…

Living on the west coast leaves us far away from the guys as they all are in schools on the other side of the country or world! Yet as far as they are they all reach out and not just during hard times…All the time. A day does not go by that Adam doesn’t hear from someone from camp. The thing is Chai Lifeline truly is Adam’s LIFELINE. I don’t know what he would do without you! You are his friendships, his support and the only thing that makes some of the crazy medical stuff seem secondary. The only thing that makes him truly happy! Just knowing he can call any number of guys is like having a pic line or a central line in his body again. These boys are the oxygen he breathes, his braces on legs, his rope, his LIFELINE.

I know that these young men are volunteers, they have numerous choices of things they could be doing over the summer and throughout the year yet somehow they have selected to be a part of Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha. These boys are amazing. They go way beyond the commitment of working at camp too make themselves truly a part of these campers lives. As a mom on the west coast, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know some of these guys even with them so far away and they are incredible people. We live so far away and yet are so connected. I treasure every phone call, e-mail, text, I.M., video chat that takes place with them and our family. Everything they do affects our whole family in a positive way. In fact just yesterday a counselor heard that my oldest daughter wasn’t well, he immediatelyimmediatly called. That speaks volumes. It’s magical! Tomorrow Adam is going to children’s hospital for a pre-surgery cast and some tests, one of the counselors happens to be in LA this week for a vacation, he called me to see if he could see Adam, I told him of Adam’s hospital appointment and he immediately said he was meeting us there to be with Adam. He is on vacation and could be doing anything else in LA but is taking the day to spend with Adam.

Adam has a countdown and checks the camp website to see how many days left until camp begins. He wants to move to New York so he can be closer to everyone.

Tell the boys the Wolfpack is so grateful they are in our lives! We wish they all lived in Southern California with us (actually I believe this winter with the snow you have had, you all do too!)

With deep Gratitude,

Ali Wolf (Adam’s mom)

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