Chaiyanu – a vacation from being sick

TALI FEINBERG

That is what a group of young Israeli children and teens with cancer did on their first day of the Chaiyanu “Hope Tour” to South Africa. They have been brought here to enjoy the best that life has to offer, distracting them from the sadness, monotony and medication that usually regulate their daily lives.

“It is a vacation from being sick, says Benjamin (20), from Be’er Sheva, one of the older teens. Aviram (16) from Jerusalem says this experience has taught him that good things can come after bad things. Yes, he had cancer, but now he has got to enjoy this trip and this will give him strength in the face of future challenges.

Noam (17), from Jerusalem, says that seeing the line-up of sports cars is “like being in a movie”. A car fanatic, he has lost fingers and toes in his cancer battle, but his eyes sparkle with excitement as he enjoys this dream-come-true experience.

“The tour is made possible by the generosity of South African families, says Elad Maimon, CEO of the organisation, which is based in Johannesburg. From the flights to the meals, outings, activities, administration and accommodation, our very own community is the force behind this dream adventure.

The tour has separate tracks for boys and girls. Meeting the large contingent youngsters over breakfast at Chabad in Sea Point, they had arrived in Cape Town tired from their trip, but their spirits and energy were immediately lifted as they were whisked off to a party in Camps Bay, hosted by Avi Levy and 200 of his closest friends.

“We were dancing and singing – we all know the same songs!” Ari (21) remarked. “South Africa has the warmest people. We may be far from Israel, but it’s like having another family.”

Mark (17) from Ashdod and Chris (18) from Dimona, expressed their gratitude, saying they don’t take this experience for granted and want to thank those who “woke up one day and decided that they wanted to make our lives easier”. They marvel at the views and beauty of Cape Town, which they say are unmatched in America or Europe.

David (15), from Netanya, lost his father just days before the trip – another challenge for a boy who has had cancer return for the second time. “Everyone is happy all the time on this tour. It will give us strength to continue,” he says.

Rafi Druion, a South African studying at yeshiva in Israel and a madrich on the programme, explains that some children are more ill than others, and that this trip helps them to let go of their daily challenges.

Some participants are in wheelchairs, some need assistance with daily tasks, and they all help each other. All medications are administered by nurse Shulamit, who has been volunteering with the programme for almost 20 years.

“Chaiyanu goes beyond this South African trip,” explains Shulamit. “We are by the families’ sides from the moment of diagnosis. Our volunteers are often teenagers who support other teenagers, almost becoming like a brother or sister. There is so much stress on a family, often with other children at home, and we fill in those gaps, allowing the parents to go home when needed.”

In supporting children, the organisation spends time with them whenever needed, hosts birthday celebrations and Rosh Chodesh parties, provides school tutorials and computer technology, liaises with the school, gives gifts for the chaggim, and takes them to ‘Camp Simcha’, two-weeks of recreation in the United States, as well as the “Hope Tour” to South Africa.

In supporting the parents, Chaiyanu provides legal counsel, medical and emotional counselling, group and individual support, family fun days, connecting with other parents, and medical advocacy – finding the right doctors, the appropriate treatment centres and health organisations throughout Israel and the world.

While in South Africa, the participants will go on safari, go up Table Mountain, have helicopter rides, enjoy a Lag B’Omer party, and be hosted in the homes of South African families, among numerous other activities and excursions.

The Jerusalem teenager, Aviram, expresses particular excitement at seeing the animals on safari.

“I see the light of joy in their eyes,” describes official tour photographer Yossi, as he snaps the participants climbing into Ferraris and Porsches under the South African sun, sometimes with a drip or wheelchair in tow. “Everywhere else I’ve been, I’ve never seen hospitality like in South Africa”, he adds.

“When they come off the plane, they are frail, but by the end of this trip they are full of energy,” says Ronit Beleli from Johannesburg, who has been volunteering with the organisation for four years. “It’s like giving water to a plant, and suddenly they bloom. They are like sunflowers,” she smiles.

As the teens are whisked away in fast cars by new friends, the delight on their faces shows that this tour has achieved its aims: to give them the time of their lives in the care and generosity of the South African Jewish community.