By RANDI WEINER
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: December 30, 2005)
NYACK — When 2-year-old Jovani Romero leaves Nyack Hospital's pediatric ward for his home in Garnerville within the next few days, he'll take along a Hanukkah gift and the grins and good wishes of a dozen Jewish children and parents.
Members of the Youth Zone, a Chabad of Rockland children's club, brought gifts, Hanukkah gelt and small plastic dreidels to children spending the holidays in the hospital as a way to brighten their day and do a mitzvah, or good deed, said Chaya Ehrenreich, who along with her husband, Rabbi Chaim Z. Ehrenreich, run the two-year-old organization for Jewish children ages 5 to 10.
Four years ago, the Ehrenreichs spent Hanukkah in the hospital with their daughter, Chaya Ehrenreich said. "There was nothing for the holiday there, nothing Jewish. I felt there should be something Jewish," she said.
Last year, the Chestnut Ridge-based group purchased and wrapped gifts for children in the hospital and Chaya Ehrenreich delivered them. This year, the children presented them.
"Since they prepared the gifts, we thought it would be more meaningful for the kids to participate in the mitzvah," Chaya Ehrenreich said.
Jennifer Roth, 13, and her sister, Hannah Roth, 10, of Suffern enjoyed the shopping but felt that presenting the gifts was a high point of the project, they said.
"I think that they really need something to cheer them up and to bring joy to them. It's something good to do in this life," Jennifer said.
Club member Matthew Josephs, 10, of Palisades, said he appreciated the opportunity to do something for other people.
"Charity makes you feel better. It's the right thing to do," he said.
Susie Roth Beerman of South Nyack, who accompanied her son, Joey Beerman, 10, said the group had spent the past two weeks on the project.
"For children in the hospital during holidays, they'll feel cared for and they're not missing out on the fun and the friends," she said.
Maureen Kroning, pediatric nurse manager, said she was happy to invite the Chabad group into the ward to give out presents to the four children under care there.
"It's an absolutely great morale-booster," she said. "It shows the spirit of the holidays."
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: December 30, 2005)
NYACK — When 2-year-old Jovani Romero leaves Nyack Hospital's pediatric ward for his home in Garnerville within the next few days, he'll take along a Hanukkah gift and the grins and good wishes of a dozen Jewish children and parents.
Members of the Youth Zone, a Chabad of Rockland children's club, brought gifts, Hanukkah gelt and small plastic dreidels to children spending the holidays in the hospital as a way to brighten their day and do a mitzvah, or good deed, said Chaya Ehrenreich, who along with her husband, Rabbi Chaim Z. Ehrenreich, run the two-year-old organization for Jewish children ages 5 to 10.
Four years ago, the Ehrenreichs spent Hanukkah in the hospital with their daughter, Chaya Ehrenreich said. "There was nothing for the holiday there, nothing Jewish. I felt there should be something Jewish," she said.
Last year, the Chestnut Ridge-based group purchased and wrapped gifts for children in the hospital and Chaya Ehrenreich delivered them. This year, the children presented them.
"Since they prepared the gifts, we thought it would be more meaningful for the kids to participate in the mitzvah," Chaya Ehrenreich said.
Jennifer Roth, 13, and her sister, Hannah Roth, 10, of Suffern enjoyed the shopping but felt that presenting the gifts was a high point of the project, they said.
"I think that they really need something to cheer them up and to bring joy to them. It's something good to do in this life," Jennifer said.
Club member Matthew Josephs, 10, of Palisades, said he appreciated the opportunity to do something for other people.
"Charity makes you feel better. It's the right thing to do," he said.
Susie Roth Beerman of South Nyack, who accompanied her son, Joey Beerman, 10, said the group had spent the past two weeks on the project.
"For children in the hospital during holidays, they'll feel cared for and they're not missing out on the fun and the friends," she said.
Maureen Kroning, pediatric nurse manager, said she was happy to invite the Chabad group into the ward to give out presents to the four children under care there.
"It's an absolutely great morale-booster," she said. "It shows the spirit of the holidays."
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