Chai Lifeline

Last updated
Chai Lifeline
Formation1987
Type Non-profit NGO
PurposeCancer and chronic illness support
Headquarters New York City
Location
  • 151 West 30th Street
Region served
International
Executive Vice President
Rabbi Simcha Scholar
Key people
Mordechai Gobioff, Director of Client Services
Esther Schwartz, Director of Hospital Services Ari Dembitzer, Head counselor, rabbi of happiness
Staff
90
Volunteers
5,455 [1]
Website http://www.chailifeline.org

https://www.facebook.com/chailifelinepage

https://www.twitter.com/chai_lifeline

Chai Lifeline is a chesed organization founded in 1987 by Rabbi Simcha Scholar to help families with "children battling a deadly disease." [2]

Contents

Although they have professional staff, much of their work depends on volunteers, whose ranks include those who, in their younger years, received services and survived. [3] Their goal is to "restore the light of childhood to children whose innocence ended when life-threatening or lifelong illness was diagnosed." [4]

While most Chai Lifeline programs operate year-round, their upstate NY summer program "for children with catastrophic illnesses" helps "Jewish children from around the world." [5]

History

Scholar's initial guidance was from Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, [2] and the focus was Jewish pediatric cancer patients in the NYC area. [3] By 1990, they had offices in Florida and Jerusalem, with another planned for California. [6]

Subsequent expansion included services to other major Jewish areas such as Baltimore [7] and the West Coast. [8]

Their Los Angeles office was described as "provides services to .. families of all Jewish denominations" and "depends on foundation and individual donations." [9]

Mission Expansion

Yeshiva University hosted the first university-based Shabbaton to give exposure and training for Chai Lifeline college-age volunteers, under a Fighting Illness With Love banner. [10] As of 2015 their first (2008) [11] Canadian outreach still seemed limited to Montreal, like Federation CJA, with whom they affiliated. [12] By 2018 the Toronto Star had reported the expansion of Chai Lifeline Canada to Toronto and somewhat beyond. [13]

By 2012, small scale Chai Lifeline groups had begun in UK and Belgium, with support from the New York-based main office's professionals. [14] [15]

Services

While not all services were available in all locations as of 2015, some of the programs offered by a blend of professionals [16] and volunteers are:

Camp Simcha

Camp Simcha [5] is a 125-acre (0.51 km2) campus located in Glen Spey, NY. [17] NY that offers children with cancer a chance to enjoy traditional camp activities.

Besides mini-golf, arts & crafts workshops, modified sports, color war, and talent shows there are helicopter rides and concerts. An innovative swimming pool ramp and water-submersible wheelchairs enables more children to enjoy swimming. They have a motorboat, paddle and bumper boats, and a pontoon boat capable of holding an entire bunk, including wheelchair-dependent children.[ citation needed ]

The camp program is directed by Dr. Peter Steinherz [18] and an entire team of oncologists, pediatric oncology nurses, EMTs, social workers and physical therapists. In case of emergencies, an acute transport ambulance is on-site at all times, and accompanies campers on any trips. A Medevac helicopter is on call, and can reach the camp within five minutes.

Camp Simcha Special

Camp Simcha Special was created in 2001 to meet the medical and social needs of children and teens with disabilities, chronic diseases, or genetic diseases. Located on the same campus as Camp Simcha. The program is directed by Dr. Robert van Amerongen [19] with a staff of pediatric specialists, nurses, EMTs, social workers and physical therapists. [20]

About

Chai Lifeline trains volunteers. [21]

Project C.H.A.I. Crisis Intervention program ensures that children, their parents, teachers, clergy and communities can properly deal with traumatic events, often partnering with organizations such as Jewish Family & Children's Service of Arizona's Aleinu program and Misaskim. [22] [23] [24] Chai Lifeline is funded by Jewish philanthropists and other fundraising receptions. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] They also receive government funding and grants. [30]

Hospital and home-based services

Advocacy and Case Management – a team of case managers that offer emotional support and information. Insurance Support Service – Providing general information including: explaining insurance coverage and helping to complete reimbursement applications. Meal Support – Providing meals to hospitalized patients and their families, many times also supplying food for families with a sick child when cooking is impossible. Transportation Services – Transportation to and from medical centers and doctors’ appointments. Chai House – A house located in the close proximity of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to accommodate family spending periods of time in the hospital. [31]

Counseling

Chailine Telephone Support Groups – Parents of children with similar prognosis discuss their situations offering support via conference calls facilitated by professional therapists.

Healing Hearts Bereavement Program – Annual weekend retreats and counseling where parents who lost a beloved child are comforted.

Chai Family Centers – Community-based counseling centers help children and parents cope with the impact of illness on their lives.

Short-term counseling – Transient advice for ill children, their parents and/or siblings is available through regional offices. [32]

ChaiNet – A community by and for Chai Lifeline families, Chai Net allows parents to exchange information and support one another in their battles against pediatric illness. Partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure Chai Lifeline provides counseling for Jewish women with breast cancer. [33]

Educational assistance

ChaiLink – Webcam connections that link hospitalized or recuperating children to classrooms, teachers, and friends, and loans of laptop computers loaded with educational software.

Homebound Educational Learning Program – A tutoring program that enable hospitalized or recuperating children to keep up with their schoolwork.

Crisis intervention and bereavement services

The New York Times [4] described the organization's Brooklyn Tragedy 24 Hour Crisis Intervention Hot Line and Director of bereavement and intervention services Dr. Norman Blumenthal's made-for-parents video, created after the Murder of Leiby Kletzky in New York. [34]

Helping when the focus was beyond children with illnesses included after:

Trained volunteers offer emotional and professional support. [38]

Trips and vacations

Chai Lifeline arranges trips for children who spend their days in and out of the hospital. Trips involve sporting events, shows, and special trip such as

Fundraising programs

Chai Lifeline is a New York City volunteer-based [49] 501(c)(3) non-profit organization [50] that primarily works with children battling cancer.

Fundraising programs include

Events include

Affiliates

Chai Lifeline International is an affiliate. One of its programs is named Chaiuanu, and it provides services in Israel. [65]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad</span> Hasidic Jewish movement

Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch, is a branch of Orthodox Judaism, originating from Eastern Europe and one of the largest Hasidic dynasties. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups as well as one of the largest Jewish religious organizations in the world. Unlike most Haredi groups, which are self-segregating, Chabad mainly operates in the wider world and it caters to secularized Jews.

Ohr Somayach, Monsey was an accredited men's college of Judaic studies offering both full and part-time programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Rivkah</span> Chabad girls school

Beth Rivkah, formally known as Associated Beth Rivkah Schools, is a private girls' school system affiliated with the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torah Umesorah – National Society for Hebrew Day Schools</span> Network of Jewish Orthodox schools

Torah Umesorah – National Society for Hebrew Day Schools is an Orthodox Jewish educational charity based in the United States that promotes Torah-based Jewish religious education in North America by supporting and developing a loosely affiliated network independent private Jewish day schools.

Shloime Dachs is an American Orthodox pop vocalist. He is also the founder of the eponymous Shloime Dachs Orchestra, which plays at weddings, concerts, and benefits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish education</span> Overview of education in the Jewish world

Jewish education is the transmission of the tenets, principles, and religious laws of Judaism. Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish culture. Judaism places a heavy emphasis on Torah study, from the early days of studying the Tanakh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colel Chabad</span> Charitable organization based in Jerusalem

Colel Chabad was founded in 1788 and is the oldest continuously operating charity in Israel. The institution runs a network of soup kitchens and food banks, dental and medical clinics, daycare centers, widow and orphan support, and immigrant assistance programs. It also provides interest-free loans, camp scholarships, career training and job placement, subsidized weddings for the poor, and many other social-welfare projects.

<i>Bikur cholim</i> Mitzvah (Jewish religious commandment) to visit and extend aid to the sick

Bikur cholim refers to the mitzvah to visit and extend aid to the sick. It is considered an aspect of gemilut chasadim. It is traditional to recite prayers for healing, such as the Mi Shebeirach prayer in the synagogue, and Psalms on behalf of the sick. Bikur holim societies exist in Jewish communities around the world. The earliest bikur holim society on record dates back to the early Middle Ages.

Orthodox Jewish outreach, often referred to as Kiruv or Qiruv, is the collective work or movement of Orthodox Judaism that reaches out to non-observant Jews to encourage belief in God and life according to Jewish law. The process of a Jew becoming more observant of Orthodox Judaism is called teshuva making the "returnee" a baal teshuva. Orthodox Jewish outreach has worked to enhance the rise of the baal teshuva movement.

Stuart Ditchek is an American author, board-certified Pediatrician, and Professor of medicine, best known as one of the authors of the book on integrative pediatrics, Healthy Child, Whole Child: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine to Keep Your Kids Healthy. A second edition of the book was released in 2009. Dr. Ditchek has a website where he provides information on integrative pediatrics. Dr. Ditchek founded and served as the medical director of Camp Simcha Special, from 2001 to 2009, a camp for children with chronic illnesses, a program of Chai Lifeline and currently acts as the medical director of Kids of Courage, a non-for-profit for children with chronic lifelong illnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Tennessee Children's Hospital</span> Hospital in Tennessee, United States

East Tennessee Children's Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit, 152-bed pediatric medical center in Knoxville, Tennessee. The hospital's primary service area includes 16 counties in East Tennessee, and its secondary service area includes counties in southwest Virginia, southeast Kentucky and western North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendel Weinbach</span>

Chona Menachem Mendel (Mendel) Weinbach was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, educator, author, and speaker. As the co-founder and dean of Ohr Somayach Institutions, a Jerusalem-based yeshiva for newly-observant Jewish men, he was considered one of the fathers of the modern-day baal teshuva movement.

The Children's Art Project at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a non-profit initiative that benefits patients in the Children’s Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Marketing and sales of products based on the artwork of these young patients fund programs that support their educational, emotional and recreational needs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yehuda Tzadka</span>

Yehuda Yehoshua Tzadka was a respected Sephardi rabbi and rosh yeshiva of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He became a student in the yeshiva after his bar mitzvah, and continued to study and teach there for almost 70 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad affiliated organizations</span> Organizations affiliated with the Chabad movement within Hasidic Judaism

Chabad affiliated organizations and institutions number in the thousands. Chabad is a Hasidic movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism. The organizations and institutions associated with the movement provide social, educational and religious services to Jews around the globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SeriousFun Children's Network</span>

SeriousFun Children's Network is a global community of 30 camps and programs for seriously ill children. All camps and programs offer free recreational experiences to children with serious illnesses and their family members. The first SeriousFun camp was launched in 1988 by founder Paul Newman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Friedman (singer)</span> American Jewish singer (born 1984)

Benzion Hakohen "Benny" Friedman is an American Hasidic Jewish singer and a non-pulpit rabbi. Professionally trained in voice, he rose to prominence on the Orthodox pop scene with his first album in 2009. Singing mainly in Hebrew, Friedman tours extensively and also appears in music videos. He views his music as a shlichus (outreach) tool, with the goal of drawing Jews closer to Judaism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosi Piamenta</span> Orthodox Jewish musician

Yosi Piamenta was an Orthodox Jewish singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for introducing the electric guitar to Jewish music. Piamenta played rock and roll tunes, often infused with heavy rock licks and extended guitar solos – all while dressed in Orthodox Jewish religious clothing and singing Biblical Hebrew lyrics. Piamenta was widely acknowledged by rock critics as a guitar virtuoso.

Simcha Eichenstein is an American politician from New York. He is a member of the New York State Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaim Malinowitz</span> Haredi rabbi and scholar (1952–2019)

Chaim Zev Malinowitz was a Haredi community rabbi, dayan, and Talmudic scholar. Fluent in all areas of the Talmud, halakha, and hashkafa, he was the general editor of the 73-volume Schottenstein Edition of the Babylonian Talmud published by ArtScroll. After immigrating to Israel, he became the rabbi of Beis Tefillah Yonah Avraham, an English-speaking congregation for Anglophone Israeli immigrants in Ramat Beit Shemesh, which he led for 17 years.

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrating life with Chai Lifeline". JNS.org (Jewish and Israel News Service). June 17, 2012. .. draws on the work of 5000 volunteers
  2. 1 2 Rabbi Yaakov Feitman; Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi; Cedarhurst (January 2, 2019). "Ba Lelameid Venimtzah Lameid – Lessons from a Chai Lifeline Retreat".
  3. 1 2 Sandy Eller (November 14, 2018). "Chai Lifeline Continues To Inspire". The Jewish Press .
  4. 1 2 Lisa Belkin (July 19, 2011). "Talking to Children About Tragedy". The New York Times .
  5. 1 2 (Camp Simcha) Allison Cohen (January 12, 2000). "Girls Raise Camp Fund for Ill Kids". Los Angeles Times .
  6. ↑ Kathleen M. Berry (April 8, 1990). "BLACKBOARD: Giving Meaning To the Word Life". The New York Times .
  7. ↑ Isaac Draiman (December 13, 2015). "Chai Lifeline lights up the night". Baltimore Jewish Life.
  8. ↑ "Chai Lifeline West Coast celebrates 18 years of providing help". November 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ Nancy Sokoler Steiner (April 18, 2008). "Chai Lifeline helps families facing life-threatening diseases". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles .
  10. ↑ "Fighting Illness With Love". 2 March 2011.
  11. ↑ "Chai Lifeline Canada to host information session at Callingwood Running Room on June 11". Edmonton Jewish News. June 7, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Fighting Illness with Love". June 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ Julien Gignac (February 19, 2018). "Chai Lifeline an 'extended family' for those struggling with illness and loss". Toronto Star . in Toronto and Montreal and has satellite services in Ottawa, Edmonton and Vancouver.
  14. ↑ "Celebrating life with Chai Lifeline". JNS.org (Jewish and Israel News Service). June 17, 2012.
  15. 1 2 "Chai Lifeline's First "i-Shine" Conference Focuses on Sharing Ideas and Planning for Growth". June 8, 2015.
  16. ↑ degrees among various articles include MD, MSW, LSW
  17. ↑ San Diego Jewish Journal: Special Camps for Special Kids
  18. ↑ "Drs. Peter And Laurel Steinherz To Be Honored By Chai Lifeline". 5 Towns Jewish Times.
  19. ↑ The Jewish Star: Summer in Camp Simcha Special
  20. ↑ The Jewish Press: Camp Simcha Special Changes A Family's Life
  21. ↑ "From Heartache to Hope at Chai Lifeline's Annual Bereavement Retreat". May 1, 2018. .. over a dozen Project Chai volunteers who took part in numerous training sessions
  22. ↑ Jewish News of Greater Phoenix: JFCS forms crisis response team Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ The Jewish Star: Quick action averted cremation
  24. ↑ The Yeshiva World PHOTOS: Misaskim Hosts Important Meeting Between NYPD Brass & Many Bais Yaakov Administrators
  25. ↑ Carol Gardens Patch: Keep the Money Flowing In!
  26. ↑ Lincolnshire Review: Chai Lifeline’s “Caliente: A Hot Night for a Cool Cause”
  27. ↑ InsideToronto.com: Ex-NHL players hit ice for sick children
  28. ↑ The Yeshiva World: Chai Lifeline Lakewood 10th Anniversary Reception
  29. ↑ Social Miami: Make-A-Difference Gala Benefits Chai Lifeline Southeast Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ The Yeshiva World City Council Delivers Over $5 Million Of ‘Kosher Pork’ « » Frum Jewish News
  31. ↑ Jewish Exponent: When in Dire Straits, a Group Offers a Hand
  32. ↑ Jordan Loux (May 10, 2017). "Chai Lifeline Helps Kids and Families in Need". JmoreLiving.com. There are 10 regional Chai Lifeline offices ...
  33. ↑ YouTube – 2010 30 Second Public Service Announcement
  34. ↑ "Crisis Counselors Helping NYC Hasidic Community Cope With Leiby Kletzky's Murder" . Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  35. ↑ Vos Iz Neias: New York - Chai Lifeline, Achiezer Open Crisis Hotline For Five Towns/Rockaway.
  36. ↑ The Five Towns Jewish Times: Home Is Where The Heart Is
  37. ↑ "Returning to Synagogue: How do we Speak to our Children about Pittsburgh?". The Jewish Press . November 4, 2018.
  38. ↑ "The Yeshiva World". 11 December 2009.
  39. ↑ Orange County Jewish Life: Super Mitzvah
  40. ↑ "Chai Lifeline to send 12-year-old to the Super Bowl". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles . Archived from the original on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  41. ↑ Orlando Sentinel: Children with cancer get magical trip to Orlando
  42. ↑ 5 Towns Jewish Times: Fantasy Becomes Reality For Kids With Cancer [ permanent dead link ]
  43. ↑ Central Florida News 13: A magical trip for kids battling cancer Archived December 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  44. ↑ Chicago Tribune: Israel trip challenges, inspires teens with disabilities
  45. ↑ Huffington Post: Israel Trips For Jewish Youths Expand, Including For Disabled Teens
  46. ↑ Skywords with El Al: A Trip of a Lifetime for a Group of Chronically Ill Teens Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  47. ↑ Israel National News: Teenage Cancer Survivors on Thanksgiving Trip to Israel
  48. ↑ The Yeshiva World: Leading Rabbonim Offer Brochos to Chai Lifeline’s Children During Their Wish At The Wall Trip
  49. ↑ The Lakewood Scoop: Chai Lifeline NJ Kicks Off Volunteer Recruitment
  50. ↑ New York NY 10001- Tax Exempt Organizations and 10001 New York New York Non Profit Organizations
  51. ↑ Team Lifeline Website
  52. ↑ Team Lifeline Israel Website [ permanent dead link ]
  53. ↑ "Bike4Chai Celebrates 10 years". Yeshivaworld . July 26, 2019.
  54. ↑ Bike4Chai Website
  55. ↑ Tour de Simcha Website
  56. ↑ Go Mitzvah Website
  57. ↑ "Kids4Chai Website". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  58. ↑ "Local family runs for Chai Lifeline". The Jewish Star.
  59. ↑ "Summer camp made accessible by Chai Lifeline". Atlanta Jewish Times. November 2016.
  60. ↑ Jewish Review: Little campers raise big money for ill kids
  61. ↑ Chabad Rancho Mirage: Chai Kids Bowlathon
  62. ↑ "$530,000 Raised by Bike4Chai". Community Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20.
  63. ↑ "Chabad of Greater Monsey: Machane Bnos Monsey Raises Funds for Chai Lifeline". November 2011.
  64. ↑ "HANC Middle School Changes The World One Mitzvah At A Time". 5tjt.com (Five-Towns Jewish Times).
  65. ↑ Tali Feinberg (May 11, 2017). "Chaiyanu - a vacation from being sick". Jewish Report South Africa (SAJR). young Israeli children and teens with cancer .. Chaiyanu "Hope Tour" to South Africa .. generosity of the South African Jewish community.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.