Chai Lifeline Purim Celebrations Bring Simcha to 4,284 Children Around the World

Delicious treats, fantastic costumes, and lively megillah readings make Purim an unforgettable holiday for children around the world, but Chai Lifeline families have something extra special to anticipate: celebrating with their extended Chai Lifeline family. Carnivals, concerts, and parties throughout the U.S. and in Israel, Canada, and England brought an extra-large dose of Purim simcha into the lives of 4,284 Chai Lifeline children, siblings, and parents this March.

“Living with serious pediatric illness can make it all too easy to let the simcha of Purim pass by,” explained Rabbi Simcha Scholar, executive vice president. “Chai Lifeline reminds our families that there are still happy memories to be made, with more than 20 events around the world to help them celebrate.”

Five New York events ensured that there was a party for every Chai Lifeline family in the region. “Purimusic,” produced by Gershy Moskowitz, brought the music of Shloime Gertner to more than 500 Chai Lifeliners, who filled the packed auditorium of a Brooklyn high school. They sang along, joined in the crazy antics of Chai Lifeline counselors, and caught up with their Chai Lifeline friends. Shimmy Kramer, Eli Gerstner, the wacky entertainment of Bubblemania, and an astounding acrobat performance left the group cheering for more.

“The concert was a departure from our traditional Purim party, and the smiles and laughter we saw made it clear: our children and their families really enjoyed this special treat,” explained Rebbetzin Faige Yudkovsky, director of volunteer services and the event’s organizer. A no-holds-barred Purim carnival thrown by Great Neck’s Congregation Shaare Shalom and organized by Melody Zar helped congregants and 100 Chai Lifeline family members get into the Purim spirit. A host of carnival games, a knockout magic show, the lively music of Shua Solomon, prizes, and delicious carnival fare ensured that Chai Lifeline’s children and their siblings left with smiles on their faces.

“I saw for myself what Chai Lifeline does for its children when I was sick, and when I had the opportunity to plan this carnival and bring fun into their lives, I jumped at the chance,” explained Miss Zar, a former Chai Lifeline client.

Chassidic families had a great time at events in Boro Park and Monroe. More than 460 Chai Lifeliners laughed at Purim shpiels, “oohed” as a juggler “played” with fire, and enjoyed a performance by a Chai Lifeline boys’ choir, live music, and delicious treats.

Patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center were treated to a Purim bash with their Chai Lifeline friends, enjoying music, arts and crafts, and delicious hamantashen with Chai Lifeline and the girls of TAG High School.

Chai Lifeline welcomes Purim around the world

Around the world, Purim celebrations gave sick children and their families myriad ways to celebrate. More than 3,173 joined Chai Lifeline celebrations, held in Lakewood, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Miami, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Beit Shemesh, Israel; London, Manchester, Golders Green, and Gateshead, England; and Toronto, Canada. Lively music, leibidic singers, delicious holiday treats, wacky clowns, enthralling magic shows, and prizes galore brought smiles and holiday cheer to all.

Camp Simcha U.K., Chai Lifeline’s affiliate in England, orchestrated a double-decker celebration for the second year in a row. “Last year’s parade, with open-top buses creating a portable Purim party, was such a hit that we threw a similar event this year,” explained Neville Goldschneider, director of Camp Simcha U.K. “Because Purim falls on erev Shabbos and is a short day, instead of a parade we’re going to house parties in double-decker buses stationed throughout two prominent London Streets, offering our families a memorable celebration and increasing awareness of Camp Simcha U.K.”