This past Chol Hamoed, there were many venues for family outings, many sponsored by worthwhile charities. But only one featured the famous Hershey’s Chocolate World, as well as the entire adjoining Hershey Park amusement facility, that was rented out for Jewish children and their parents to enhance the Yom Tov spirit. The event was co-coordinated by the National Council of Young Israel and the Mikvah of Lancaster County. With Jewish music playing throughout the park, over 15,000 participants joined in a day of rides, concerts and games, and delicious food to be eaten in magnificent large sukkahs.
The very talented Ira Heller relaxed after two concerts in the sukkah with his lovely wife, Alysia.
The Levy family from Flatbush learned everything about making chocolate at the
Chocolate World Tour. Yummmm!
The National Council used this special day to give to the community, inviting over 1,500 individuals from Chai Lifeline to attend at no charge. Rabbi Yehoshua Sauer, director of Synagogue Services at the National Council, stated, “This event is a needed respite to those families who have a child who has a chronic and life threatening illness. This day allows families to have a bonding experience, as families are torn apart as one parent has to care for the child in the hospital and one takes care of the rest of the family at home. Today everybody is able to be together.”
Yanky and Atara Reich brought their children, Yechial Moshe and Chana Leah, but ended up bringing home a new pet monkey who they immediately named “Yoli.”
Rabbi Yehoshua Sauer, his wife Yaffa and children Shmuli, Simcha, Simi and Dovi.
One place that really allowed them to be together was at the simchas bais ha’shoava, where a live band played and all the participants joined in singing and dancing.
The Lancaster Mikvah not only is used by the local community but by the many tourists who come to visit the beautiful Amish country.
Yehuda, Tzvi, Sara, Dovid, and little Binyomin were very grateful that their parents,
Akiva and Malkie Schwartz, brought them to the park.
How they were going to fit the Taz in the car was another story.
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