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More than 2,000 members of the Lakewood community packed Ateres Chana this past Tuesday night to show their support for Chai Lifeline and the many services it provides to local families. From Roshei Yeshiva to rabbonim, yeshivaleit and balabatim, individuals from all walks of life came to enjoy the 17th anniversary reception, held in memory of devoted Chai Lifeline volunteer Mrs. Devora Goldstein, grateful for the opportunity to honor an organization that does so much for so many.

Numerous parlor meetings have been held in Lakewood over the past month to ensure the dinner’s success. Pre-dinner events throughout the area also gave residents the opportunity to hear directly from families about the impact Chai Lifeline has had on their lives, providing crucial services with exemplary compassion and professionalism.

The night kicked off with opening remarks by dinner chairman Rabbi Mutty Berkowitz, Rosh Mesivta at Yeshiva Nefesh Hachaim, who noted that while Chai Lifeline cannot cure illness, its hands-on approach helps those who face illness continue with their lives, coordinating details large and small. Rabbi Berkowitz introduced Rav Malkiel Kotler, shlita, who offered divrei bracha, commending Chai Lifeline for attaining the highest possible level of chesed and stressing the organization’s importance to the Lakewood community.

Rabbi Simcha Scholar, executive vice president of Chai Lifeline, thanked everyone in attendance for taking the time to participate in the dinner and cited the vital importance of the organization’s work, providing those who face illness with an all important lifeline in their time of need.

“There were five people who came over to me at the event and said that they have been coming to the dinner for years and never really understood what Chai Lifeline was, but now that their child was diagnosed and they have used our services, they realize they couldn’t have made it without our help,” said Rabbi Scholar.

Dr. Richard Lin, attending physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s department of critical care medicine and clinical director of the hospital’s progressive care unit, was honored with the Community Service Award for his selfless devotion and the unwavering dedication he lavishes on his young patients.

Rabbi Chaim Ozer Fruchthandler shared his personal story, telling how his family came to America after his daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Praising Chai Lifeline for its individualized approach to every case, Rabbi Fruchthandler noted that Chai Lifeline was on hand to help his family from their very first day in the United States, arranging private tutoring, therapy appointments and more, leaving no stone unturned when it came to addressing his family’s needs. Rabbi Fruchthandler also expressed his gratitude to case manager and director of hospital services Miss Naomi Stavsky and her team of coordinators for their Herculean efforts, responding to every request for assistance with a cheerful “Don’t worry. It will be taken care of.”

Rabbi Yissachar Weiner, menahel of Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel in Flatbush, concluded the event by speaking poignantly about how involved his sister in law, Mrs. Devora Goldstein a’h, was with Chai Lifeline throughout her life, first as a volunteer and then during her personal struggle with cancer. Rabbi Weiner described how Chai Lifeline was there for the Goldstein family through their entire ordeal, stepping in for Mrs. Goldstein when she was unable to function, taking on the many responsibilities of day to day life and ensuring that the children’s emotional and physical needs were being met despite their mother’s illness. Rabbi Weiner recounted how during Mrs. Goldstein’s final days, Chai Lifeline volunteers were on hand daily, taking the children to school and picking them and how at her levaya, they stood side by side with the Goldstein boys as they said kaddish for their mother.

After enjoying the magnificent dinner and the uplifting program, the attendees left infused with a greater appreciation for Chai Lifeline and its many volunteers who literally devote themselves heart and soul to bettering the lives of those facing illness.

“We are grateful to everyone who joined us as we celebrated our 17th anniversary,” said Rabbi Sruli Fried, director of Chai Lifeline New Jersey. “The enthusiasm and the warmth shown to us by the Lakewood community is an inspiration to everyone at Chai Lifeline and gives us all that extra burst of energy so that we can continue doing our best to every single person who reaches out to us.”

For more information on Chai Lifeline, visit www.chailifeline.org or call 877-CHAI-LIFE.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)