The virtual Urban dictionary defines the word Nachas as: ”Pride or joy one feels for another’s success or accomplishment, esp if one took part in the process of achieving that success.” When it comes to the achievements of former campers at Camp Simcha, I could not agree more.
In July of 2001, a young 5th grader named Eitan Levine made his way through the front gate of Camp Simcha displaying his own original perspective of a child at war with cancer. With a feisty but charming attitude this young man who was diagnosed with painful Ewing’s Sarcoma in his left tibia waged his battles loaded with rounds of chemotherapy, follow-up surgeries and his own unique brand of encouraging humor. He didn’t just tell jokes, or spin a situation in a funny way, his style included a brand of physical comedy to that rivals the late John Ritter and Robin Williams.
Over the summers I got to know him, Eitan grew to become a most talented entertainer. His antics as a college student at Yeshiva University even landed his face on a section cover in the New York Times, soliciting the attention of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. A couple of months later when he took a semester off to recover from surgery, Mr. Levine received a get well card on Alaska State letterhead handwritten by the hockey mom herself.
Steadily cultivating a reputation on the NYC comedy circuit, trouping with improv theather groups and hosting his own sports comedy radio programs, I couldn’t be prouder of the intelligent entertainer that has emerged. Last year, he even joined a group that preforms for the kids back in camp every summer.
Childhood cancer survivor and CS alum Eitan Levine has made it to the final voting round for one of 10 spots in the 2013 MLB Fan Cave, where he hopes to represent his favorite New York Mets – a team we know well. Thousands of applicants have been narrowed down to a select few from which to be chosen for the job via online voting until February 13th.
Polls open until February 13th – see Eitan’s video and Vote Here! http://bit.ly/TTV5zC