As the Jewish world tries to make sense of the horrific murder of Leiby Kletzky, a’h, Chai Lifeline continues to offer comfort and solace through Project CHAI, its renowned crisis intervention program.

In the past few evenings, over 100,000 people participated in symposia, crowding into Yeled v’Yalda in Boro Park, the Young Israel of Flatbush, and the Young Israel of Teaneck, and linking to online and telephone feeds facilitated by Chai Lifeline.

The overwhelming response to the symposia has impelled the agency to implement two more on Wednesday, July 20.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos taken at the Boro Park & Flatbush events by Hillel & Yitzy Engel.

Chai Lifeline professionals responded immediately

Chai Lifeline was on the scene within hours of the child’s disappearance last week. Project CHAI professionals and paraprofessionals worked together with area camps to help children, counselors, camp administrators and parents cope with the situation as it unfolded. When Leiby’s body was discovered, crisis counselors were available to help parents respond to their children’s queries.

“We fielded over 1,500 phone calls,” noted Rabbi Mordechai Gobioff, Chai Lifeline’s director of client services. “So many people were struggling with the twin challenges of understanding the horror of this tragedy and explaining it to their children in a way that would alleviate undue fears.

“These community programs enable us to share our expertise and help families heal following this shocking and horrific tragedy.”

Rabbi Simcha Scholar, Chai Lifeline’s executive vice president, concurred.  “This is a situation that we would not have believed only a week ago. Our goal is to help families reassure their children and help keep them safe in what has proven – at least in the short term – to be an unsafe world.”

Audio and video feeds from the Flatbush and Boro Park symposia can be accessed at www.chailifeline.org/boroparktragedy. Additional feeds will be added following the Five Towns/Far Rockaway program. Other community forums are planned for the coming week.

Catskill Mountain Symposium for Women
Twin Oaks
Upper Twin Oaks Blvd., Fallsburg
10:30 AM – Noon

Divrei Chizuk:
Rebbetzin Leah Horowitz
Rebbetzin Telz Minyon, Wife of Rosh Yeshiva Bais Meir, Mechaneches, Bais Yaakov Seminary

Helping Yourself and Your Child Cope with Tragedy:
Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Director, Project Chai

Children’s Safety for the Future:
Dr. Faygie Zakheim
NYU Center for Violence and Recovery

This symposium is co-sponsored by Catskill Hatzaloh and Misaskim.

Five Towns/Far Rockaway Symposium for Men and Women
White Shul Congregation Kneseth Israel
728 Empire Avenue, Far Rockaway
8:00 PM

Divrei Chizuk: Rabbi Eytan Feiner, Rav, White Shul, Congregation Kneseth Israel

Helping Yourself and Your Child Cope with Tragedy:
Dr. Norman Blumenthal, Director, Project Chai

Children’s Safety for the Future: Dr. David Pelcovitz
Straus Professor of Psychology and Education, Azrieli Graduate School, Yeshiva University

This symposium is sponsored through Interborough Developmental and Consultation Center in conjunction with MASK and Achiezer. Audio feeds can be found on www.chailifeline.org/boroparktragedy.

(YWN Desk – NYC)