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It was certainly a Super Shabbos for Chai Lifeline’s children and volunteers last week. Two Friends ‘n Fun events and a special volunteer recognition Shabbos created super communities among the young people who are beneficiaries of the organization’s services, its volunteers and supporters.

Englewood, New Jersey’s first Friends ‘n Fun weekend connected 85 teens and young adults from Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, Chai Lifeline’s overnight camps for children with cancer, serious chronic disorders and disabilities, and their counselors with their healthy peers from Congregation Ahavat Torah. The weekend was the latest in a series of Friends ‘n Fun experiences in communities across North America that have linked thousands of ill children with their healthy peers since the program began in 2008.

From the moment they arrived, the girls and their counselors were more than guests: they became treasured friends with the Ahavat Torah host teens and their families.

“Our community’s teens got to see that these young women were very similar to themselves,” remarked Rivka Goldin, the Camp Simcha counselor and Englewood native who organized the weekend. “Any hesitation they might have felt because they never knew anyone in a wheelchair or who needed extensive daily support melted away. By Saturday night they were dancing together to the music of the Yeshiva Boys Choir.”

Rivky Schwartz, girls’ head counselor for Camp Simcha/Camp Simcha Special, agreed that there was instant shidduch between the teen campers.

“On Shabbos morning, one of our campers spoke of her journey through illness. Everyone, teens and congregants were captivated by her account of how illness had affected her and how Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha had helped her through the years of treatment,” she said.

Aliza Goldstein, whose son Nate was a Camp Simcha camper during his treatment for cancer, addressed parents during a special Shalosh Seudos.

“You could see the empathy in parents’ faces as she spoke. There was a feeling in the room that illness can happen to anyone’s child,” Miss Schwartz continued.

“Before this Shabbos, the community never had a chance to see Chai Lifeline in action. Now they were able to see what kids get from their summers in camp and from being part of Chai Lifeline. That was very special for everyone in Englewood,” said Miss Goldin.

Boys from five Midwestern states gathered at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie for a rollicking Friends ‘n Fun weekend at the venerable academy.

“The boys became part of the school and the school became part of Camp Simcha,” Rabbi Shlomo Crandall, Chai Lifeline Midwest director, enthused.

Sixteen boys and their counselors slept in the dormitory alongside the Hebrew Theological College’s students. The two groups, along with some of the rebbes, davened, ate, and played together.

“It was a win-win situation,” exclaimed Rabbi Crandall.

For all the fun and friendship – and there was plenty of both – the Skokie and Englewood weekends underscored the difficulties Chai Lifeline’s children face every day.

“Physical disability and illness can be very isolating,” explained Rabbi Simcha Scholar, Chai Lifeline’s executive vice president. “Friends ‘n Fun weekends are sometimes the only opportunity that a child has for this type of interaction. The fact that our counselors are devoted and willing to do everything and anything for these children gives parents the confidence to send their children to other communities for Shabbos and allows kids to have these extraordinary and unique experiences.”

Rabbi Crandall related the story of a paraplegic who communicates by lifting his eyebrows. “How do you play with a child like this?” he asked rhetorically.

“His amazing counselor played Twenty Questions. He reached this young man in a way that few people probably even try.”

Achim B’Yachad, Chai Lifeline’s program for Chassidic families, feted 80 of its top male volunteers and coordinators at a special Shabbos at Camp Simcha.

“These volunteers have all spent a minimum of 50 hours visiting children in area hospitals,” noted Hershey Katz, the program’s coordinator. “Together, they have logged more than 10,000 hours over the past year.”

From comedian to motzei Shabbos kumsitz, the group experienced the fun of Camp Simcha for two days. The men went boating on Friday afternoon and enjoyed the gym and athletic facilities before the sun set on the magnificent campus. Shabbos was both relaxing and inspiring.

“Everyone gained such chizuk from being in the same place as the children whom they visit. Now, when children talk about wanting to go back to camp, they will know from their own experiences how wonderful it is,” said Mr. Katz.

He added that additional volunteer Shabboses and other activities are in the works. “Chai Lifeline volunteers are very special. This Shabbos we were able to say ‘Thank you’ and inspire them to do even more at the same time.”

Camp Simcha is named in memory of Dr. Samuel Abraham. Camp Simcha Special is named in memory of Zvi Dovid Obstfeld.

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