Because Zichron Menachem’s motif is “simcha-therapy,” we search for and create every opportunity - through happy and healthy distractions - to make young cancer patients smile, to make them forget their difficulties, and to motivate the children to combat and overcome their illness.

The holiday of Lag Ba’Omer is another golden opportunity for Zichron Menachem to take action. Lag Ba’Omer is a school vacation day so schoolchildren throughout Israel excitedly anticipate this holiday on which bonfires are lit – according to ancient custom – in every town and city in Israel.

For children who have to be hospitalized for cancer treatments, it is impossible of course to celebrate this holiday in the usual matter, and missing out on the traditional bonfire celebrations is a difficult experience for these sick children, in addition to their other physical and emotional problems.

This is where Zichron Menachem steps in.

As done in the past, Zichron Menachem arranged this year for dozens of young volunteers, accompanied also by “Klezmer” musicians, to visit the children in the pediatric oncology department of the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center. Everything was arranged as needed. The only thing left to do was to invite a guest of honor to “ignite” the electric “bonfire” that was set up in the center of the ward’s open space.

Seven-year-old Shimi had heard – while resting in his bedside the day before – that he was well enough now to participate in the upcoming hospital Lag Ba’Omer celebration. Shimi asked with much anticipation who was going to “light” the “bonfire” – and thus, he was given the honors.

Yes, the fire was “lit” - but it wasn’t “hot” in the usual sense of the word. The fire was “hot” -- actually because it was “COOL”. It’s not every day that you see someone lighting an electric “bonfire” in the middle of a children’s hospital ward, just to make these children as happy as all the other children who are healthy and can celebrate Lag Ba’Omer out-of-doors.

In fact, ZM’s electric “bonfire” looked so real that some of young hospital patients asked to put their hands near it, just to prove to themselves that this fire was really of the “make believe” kind!

At Zichron Menachem, we make it a habit of making the unreal become … real!

In addition to the amusement of the indoor “bonfire,” the hospitalized children were treated to singing, dancing and refreshments.

Because Lag Ba’Omer day is a school holiday, this means only one thing for all the children – having much fun! Even though it’s a holiday for schoolchildren only, we included the Zichron Menachem children, their siblings and their parents in this special Lag Ba’Omer celebration.

On the morning of the Lag Ba’Omer day, ZM families from the metropolitan Jerusalem area gathered together at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Waiting for them were no less than 42 jeeps, ready to take everybody on a thrilling outdoor excursion. The challenging and breath-taking jeep route had been chosen in advance with much thought and care.

The families – traveling in groups in an impressive convoy of jeeps – went up and down, around curves, along narrow roads and trails - - all the time enjoying amazing scenery, springtime greenery, flowers, blooming trees, and the like.

When afternoon came the entire group – numbering 265 people in all, including Zichron Menachem caretakers and volunteers who constantly assist the ill children – took a break from their adventures in order to enjoy a barbeque feast which tasted even more delicious due to the fresh air which increased their appetites.

After lunch, the group continued its pleasant and invigorating jeep ride through the hilly and mountainous terrain that surrounds Jerusalem. The smiles on the faces of the Zichron Menachem children, their brothers, sisters, and parents said – everything!

Zichron Menachem would like to thank all the “cool” jeep drivers who volunteered their time and talents in order to make this event part of a long line of successful ZM events, just like the long line of jeeps on this trip!