Sukkos with the Crown Heights Friendship Circle

The Friendship Circle of Crown Heights hosted a myriad of different programs for their special children and parents. The programs included Hakafos and events in a Sukkah.

Moms – Soup in the Sukkah was hosted in the Eichorns’ Family Sukkah, mothers were greeted by a variety of soups by Turks Caterers and an elegant display of croutons, flatbreads, lite refreshments and soft drinks. Mothers of special needs children were in for a treat when graphologist Chani Blotner did a wonderful job of analyzing each of the ladies handwriting. Chani tapped into some very unique and personal character traits of the women and in her charming way, had all the women laughing.

The Friendship Circle kicked off the year of programs for post high school girls with special needs with a unique Simchas Beis Hashoeivah – at the home of it all! Hosted by Rabbi and Mrs Yisroel Shemtov, the girls enjoyed lite refreshments, games, singing and dancing. Organized by Mrs Feigy Hertzel and Mushky Borsute, the smiles of these precious young adults warmed the cold Sukkos night.

Building from the successful FC Yom Kippur Minyan, the idea was hatched to organize for our children a Hakofas of their own. Set in the lobby of the Jewish Childrens Museum, making it wheelchair and stroller accessible, the children were proud to be a part of their OWN Hakofas.

As the children entered, they each received a Torah to dance with.

Seeing the smiles on their faces as they hugged and kissed their Torahs, their feet were hardly touching the ground as they danced the night away. In between the Hakofas, they proudly put their Torah back into the Aron HaKodesh.

The Hakofas was best summed up by one father at the end of the night “Tonight I danced with the Baal Shem Tov! The true love, joy and excitement that these children displayed for Torah and Yiddishkeit was so touching. Never before have I experienced or witnessed such pure and simple joy of Simchas Torah”.

After Davening, Kiddush was made and special Pekelach were distributed Our Gabbai – Rabbi Nissen Brenenson – told over the following story; The Rebbe was once walking out from Hakofas. He passed by a little boy who was clutching a “Torah” made of two soda bottles and some construction paper, the Rebbe stopped and bent down, he kissed the Torah and continued to His room.”

The children then lined up behind the Chazzen, formed a long line with their own Torahs, and while the men sang, the children marched through the ladies section getting every participant to kiss their Torah. The feeling of joy, joy for the Torah, joy for our children and the happiness they felt that night is indescribable.

The Friendship Circle would like to thank all those volunteers that took time from joining their families, adding so much to an incredible Simchas Torah. None of the above is possible without the help and support of our partners.