In celebration of Hanukkah, the Colel Chabad charitable organization has announced increased investment in a program to bring holiday joy to severely physically and mentally handicapped youth. The effort is intended to reach over 2,500 children in centers all over the country. In addition to their hospital visits and toy distribution for the sick and injured planned for the larger hospitals, Colel Chabad found that far less attention is paid to the severely handicapped, many of whom are confided for long-term care in facilities for the disabled. "The reality is that these children, many of whom are facing disabilities that in all likelihood will remain with them for life, are living in a sense of darkness not unlike the spiritual darkness which Hanukkah is intended to combat," says Yitzchak Marton of Colel Chabad. "Our goal in this program was to create an organized and respectful manner to ensure that these children aren't being forgotten and that they too are given the chance to enjoy the holiday experience. " The Colel Chabad Charitable Organization is the longest continuously running charity in Israel, founded in 1788 by the first Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. The organization provides assistance and programming for tens of thousands of needy families, widows and orphans, the infirm and the elderly. Fully recognizing that working with this community can often be emotionally challenging, volunteers who are studying special education and are comfortable interacting with children are specifically recruited for this purpose. The program includes a gift-giving portion where the Colel Chabad works directly with representatives from the institutions to purchase gifts that will be appropriate and appreciated by these children. Special holiday activities are also planned, tailored to the special needs of those in attendance. "There is no denying that interacting with these children can be taxing and even disheartening for many people, which is why it is understandable that they don't receive the same attention as the more 'mainstream' patient community," says Marton. "But when we give these children attention and show them that they haven't been forgotten, it is immediately clear that they feel appreciated and that they truly understand that Hanukkah is a time of joy and light."
The children who will benefit from this years program suffer from many different handicaps -- ranging from those who were born with severe retardation to others who were victims of serious injuries that left them immobile or permanently brain-damaged. "These children take us far out of our comfort zones and force us to confront the painful realities existing within the disabled community," said Rabbi Sholom Duchman, international director of Colel Chabad. "But our message is that Hanukkah deserves to be enjoyed by all and they are no exception."