Rabbi Simcha Scholar Of Chai Lifeline On The Five Things You Need To Lead A Highly Successful Nonprofit Organization
…First, you need a mirror — and you need a window. The window is for vision. You have to look at what could be. Look out at the world through that window and allow yourself to dream. Dream about how a small idea can become a global movement. Then turn to the mirror. Two things should happen when you look in it. First, you have to know who you are. And second, you have to know who you are not. Believe in your strengths, but don’t kid yourself about your weaknesses…
I had the pleasure of talking with Rabbi Simcha Scholar. Rabbi Scholar is the founder and chief executive of Chai Lifeline, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive support to children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, along with their families. Over several decades, he has helped guide the organization from a modest summer camp for pediatric cancer patients into a broad, international network offering social, emotional, and logistical assistance to more than 10,,000 families each day.
Raised in Westbury, Long Island, where his father served as a rabbi and educator, Scholar was immersed early on in communal life and Jewish outreach. He credits his upbringing in a close-knit Jewish community — and a home where service to others was ingrained — as instrumental in shaping his values. “Contributing to the community was just part of our DNA,” he said in a recent interview.
Lacking an all-boys yeshiva in his area, Scholar commuted to Queens for religious schooling. His studies took him through institutions such as Yeshiva Toras Moshe and Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim before he undertook intensive Torah learning at the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn. There, he studied under influential rabbinic figures, including Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum and Rabbi Shmuel Brudny. He later joined a Kollel, a program for married men dedicated to full-time Torah study, before beginning a career in Jewish education and serving as a synagogue rabbi for a decade.
Chai Lifeline, the organization with which Scholar is now synonymous, originated from a small-scale initiative in the late 1980s. The initial concept — Camp Simcha — was launched by Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz to offer children undergoing cancer treatment a chance to attend summer camp. Scholar, involved from the outset, helped expand the concept into a larger framework that would evolve into Chai Lifeline. He remains clear in crediting Horowitz with the original idea, but Scholar’s role in structuring, scaling, and professionalizing the effort marked a decisive turning point.
The organization was developed around the principle that serious pediatric illness affects more than just the patient. “There are siblings going through silent struggles, parents trying to stay strong, and a complicated medical system that can be overwhelming,” Scholar said. Chai Lifeline’s case management model, which pairs each family with a dedicated advocate to help them navigate the healthcare system, reflects this holistic approach.
As the program expanded, so too did its mandate. While cancer remains a core focus, Chai Lifeline now supports children battling a range of critical and chronic health conditions. Services span crisis and trauma counseling, hospital visitation, financial aid, family retreats, and afterschool programming for children impacted by illness and loss. Camp Simcha continues to operate as a flagship program, running multiple sessions each summer in a medically supervised environment. However, the organization now also administers dozens of year-round initiatives.
Headquartered in New York, Chai Lifeline maintains 14 offices worldwide, with operations in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Montreal, London, and Jerusalem. Its global reach is matched by a grassroots ethos. Scholar often emphasizes that despite its size, the organization seeks to maintain an individual focus: “When we’re working with a family, they’re the only one that matters in that moment.”
The organization’s success has also made it a platform for nurturing future leaders. Scholar helped launch the Lubeck Fellowship, an eight-week leadership development program aimed at alumni of Camp Simcha and other Chai Lifeline volunteers. The program includes mentorship from senior community figures and seeks to inspire participants to serve the broader Jewish world in both lay and professional capacities.
Chai Lifeline’s influence has reached well beyond the families it directly serves. In many parts of the Jewish community, it has helped normalize conversations around illness and vulnerability, areas once often cloaked in stigma or privacy. Its model has been cited by communal leaders as a paradigm for integrating traditional religious values with modern organizational infrastructure.
Scholar’s philosophy draws from Jewish teachings on compassion, service, and humility. He frequently invokes the Jewish value of bikur cholim — visiting and supporting the sick — as a core driver of Chai Lifeline’s mission. “We took that deeply rooted tradition and gave it professional structure,” he explained, noting that the organization’s staff are trained to work within medical systems while also delivering care that emphasizes warmth and dignity.
Though he has guided Chai Lifeline through significant growth and institutional success, Scholar continues to speak of his role with a degree of personal modesty. He has said he did not seek the job, nor would he necessarily have hired himself. His leadership advice includes surrounding oneself with capable people, remaining attuned to one’s limitations, and staying grounded in purpose rather than prestige.
Looking ahead, Scholar has called for greater communal emphasis on service and responsibility, particularly among younger generations. He has advocated for the inclusion of civic-minded education in school curricula and urged individuals of all backgrounds to consider their own capacity to give — whether through financial support, volunteerism, or professional expertise.
“Everyone, no matter their circumstances, must contribute — for the sake of others,” he said. “That’s a universal value.”
Though he continues to be approached by prominent philanthropists and public figures, Scholar remains focused on the daily realities of Chai Lifeline’s work. For him, the organization’s mission is not abstract or symbolic — it is personal and immediate, shaped by each call received and each child supported.
As he puts it, “We’re not just trying to make a child smile for a day. We’re trying to help them — and their families — reclaim their lives.”
Yitzi: Rabbi Scholar, it’s an honor to meet you. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us a bit about your childhood and how you grew up?
Rabbi Scholar: Sure. My father was a rabbi in Westbury, Long Island. We grew up as children of a rabbi in a close-knit community. He was also very involved in Jewish education. He did outreach before “outreach” was even a term. So we were brought up in a very open and involved home where the Jewish community was paramount, and contributing to it was just part of our DNA.
In Long Island, there weren’t any all-boys yeshivos (Jewish schools focused on religious studies), so I went to schools in Queens. I attended Yeshiva Toras Moshe in Queens, then went on to Chofetz Chaim for high school, followed by one year of Beis Medrash — which is post-high school intensive Torah study. After that, I studied at the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn, where I spent many years.
I had the privilege of learning from some of the greatest rabbis in the world, like Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum and Rabbi Shmuel Brudny. From there, I went on to the Kollel (a program for advanced, full-time Torah study for married men) for my postgraduate learning, and eventually moved into Jewish education. I served as a synagogue rabbi for ten years — and here I am. [laughs lightly]
Yitzi: We’d love to hear a bit about the story of how you started Chai Lifeline. What was the impetus behind it?
Rabbi Scholar: First, I want to set the record straight. Camp Simcha was started by a gentleman named Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz, known as the Chuster Rebbe — a respected Hasidic leader and the son of the Bostoner Rebbe. He had the original idea for Camp Simcha, which was created as a camp for children battling cancer. I got involved right at the beginning, and we started developing this idea into a broader support system for sick children.
It all began with just eight children, in very humble beginnings, at the end of the summer in Camp Sternberg, a girls’ camp in upstate New York that lent us space. We basically pulled the whole program together from scratch.
I had a vision that this could grow into a full-fledged organization — something our community really needed. A network that could support children and families dealing with illness, regardless of their level of Jewish observance or background. That’s when we began building what eventually became Chai Lifeline. At a certain point, Rabbi Horowitz and I went in different directions in terms of our involvement, but he will always be credited with founding Camp Simcha and inspiring many of the ideas that shaped Chai Lifeline. There’s no question about that.
From there, our focus turned to the wider needs of children and families facing serious medical challenges. It wasn’t just about providing a fun, safe summer experience — though even that was groundbreaking at the time. Back then, families often kept a child’s illness private. Some parents were hesitant to send their child to Camp Simcha because of the stigma. But once they did, we saw firsthand that this work was about much more than camp. There are siblings going through silent struggles, parents trying to stay strong, and a complicated medical system that can be overwhelming. It has its own language and protocols — it’s a lot to handle.
So we began building a full range of programs and services, slowly and carefully. At the center of everything is our case management model. Every family is paired with a case manager who becomes their advocate, guide, and support person throughout the medical journey.
Eventually, we expanded beyond cancer to include all types of life-threatening or chronic illnesses. The goal was always to identify and fill in the gaps — whatever families needed that no one else was providing.
Of course, the idea of visiting and supporting the sick isn’t new. In Jewish tradition, it goes all the way back to our forefather Abraham. Even God Himself, according to our teachings, modeled that value by visiting Abraham when he was recovering from surgery.
What we did was take that deeply rooted tradition and give it professional structure. We built an organization that hospitals and doctors trust. We work within the system, we respect medical protocols, and at the same time, we bring warmth, compassion, and spiritual meaning. That blend — of professionalism and heartfelt care — has truly made a difference.
Chai Lifeline has changed how people view illness, special needs, and the challenges that come with them. We brought these issues out of the shadows and helped the community engage with them more openly and with empathy.
We developed programs that address not just the illness itself, but its ripple effects — on mental health, family dynamics, education, and life skills. Our mission isn’t just to make a child smile for a day, but to help them build the tools to fight their illness and to reclaim a full life.
We expanded past cancer, and eventually past New York. Today, Chai Lifeline has 14 offices around the world — in places like New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto, Manchester, London, Antwerp, Israel, South Africa, and, coming soon, Australia and maybe even South America. What began with eight kids has grown to supporting over 6,000 families every single day. That’s about 35,000 to 40,000 individuals.
And yet, despite its scale, thank God, it still feels like a small organization. When we’re working with a family, they’re the only one that matters in that moment. That mindset defines who we are.
Today, Chai Lifeline is more than a nonprofit — it’s a movement. It has shifted attitudes in the community. Camp Simcha is now at full capacity. It’s housed in a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. Each summer, we run 10 weeks of camp sessions, and throughout the year we host family retreats, weekend programs, and events. Sadly, we can’t accommodate every child who applies. We currently serve 500 children at camp each summer, and the most talented, passionate young people in our community apply to be counselors.
This year, there’s a waitlist of over 800 people just to be on staff. No other camp has that. That’s because Chai Lifeline draws people together from across the Jewish spectrum — Hasidic, traditional yeshiva communities, Modern Orthodox, and even those who don’t identify as Orthodox at all. Everyone comes under one roof with one goal: to help others and to care for each child as their own. The families we support come from every walk of life.
I always say — for about 5% of the world, we might seem too religious. For another 5%, not religious enough. So I tell our staff: our mission is to reach 100% of the other 90%.
Yitzi: Do you have a favorite quote or a favorite life lesson? And can you share how that quote was relevant in your work?
Rabbi Scholar: One of the most important quotes that really guided me in life came from my father, of blessed memory. He would say to me, “Simcha, when you do somebody a favor, forget about it. When someone does you a favor, never forget it.” People never forget those who helped them. Don’t ever forget the people who believed in you. Don’t ever forget the people who partnered with you. Have that hakaras hatov — which is Hebrew for “recognition of the good.” Always show that appreciation.
In a more comical vein, there was Ralph Kramden, who said, “Remember everybody on the way up in life because you’re going to meet the same exact people on the way down.” [chuckles] But honestly, that was probably one of the greatest lessons of my life. And I never forgot those people. I never forgot the ones who believed in a mission that was fledgling, that was innovative, that was different. And if it wasn’t for your $100, I wouldn’t be here today.
Yitzi: I read that Chai Lifeline doesn’t only address its immediate mission of attending to sick children and their families, but it also serves as a leadership incubator. I’d love to learn more about that. Do you have a story of somebody who started out as a volunteer and, through their association, grew into a larger leadership role?
Rabbi Scholar: First of all, the current co-chairman of Chai Lifeline, Mr. MordyRothberg, was once a Camp Simcha counselor. So we believe in our own product. Everywhere I go, I meet Camp Simcha alumni who’ve taken on major leadership roles — whether as lay leaders, rabbis, heads of organizations — both men and women.
When we launched the Lubeck Fellowship, it was because we realized we had these remarkable young adults — hundreds of them — who come through our programs each summer. There are four sessions of camp, so we’re talking about 700 to 800 people, maybe more. They enter as typical young men and women, each on their own path. But once they step into the Camp Simcha or Chai Lifeline environment, something changes.
They feel the warmth. They’re uplifted by the energy. They begin to see something deeper. But most of all, they discover the incredible joy that comes from giving. Suddenly, it hits them — there’s real happiness in giving to others.
So we created the Lubeck Fellowship To channel that. It’s an eight-week leadership development course we run via Zoom, featuring respected voices from across the Jewish community — men and women who inspire and mentor the participants. At the end, they receive a certificate of completion, and we even have a recruiter who helps connect them with organizations around the world.
It’s just one more way that Chai Lifeline supports the broader Jewish community. And of course, we also hope some of these incredible people end up joining us, too. But really, it’s a beautiful thing.
We talk about this at camp as well — that every person has a responsibility to the Jewish people. We use this phrase: If you’re fortunate enough, you may one day serve professionally in the community — as a rabbi, a teacher, or a leader of an organization. That’s a real privilege. But even if you don’t choose that path, the obligation remains.
Whether you’re a business owner or a homemaker, your talents and resources matter. You’re meant to use them for others. You can’t live only for yourself. And the men and women who come through our programs — they are the future. They are the finest and the best our community has to offer.
I haven’t visited a single Jewish community in the world where I didn’t meet Camp Simcha alumni now serving in meaningful roles.
Yitzi: Beautiful. Can you share a few things that we could do — as individuals, as a community, or even on a governmental level — to help address the root cause of the problem you’re trying to solve?
Rabbi Scholar: I believe I was given a God-directed purpose in life. He shifted my career from being a rabbi and teacher to doing this work. I didn’t apply for this job. Honestly, I’m not even sure I would’ve hired me. [chuckles]
But the most important thing to understand is that we’re not here just for ourselves. Every person has a responsibility to give. Just as there’s a commandment to give charity — tzedakah — there’s also an obligation to give of yourself. If you’re earning a modest income, you give what you can. If you’re earning a lot, you give more. But everyone, no matter their circumstances, must contribute — whether it’s through money, time, or effort — for the sake of others. That’s a universal value.
And I truly believe this should be part of every school curriculum. In some places, it already is. I’m not saying this to take away from the importance of academic excellence — or even religious scholarship. Talmudic study, for example, is something I deeply value. I’m a product of that system. My children are, too. I believe in it wholeheartedly.
But at the same time, privilege can sometimes lead to a kind of inward focus. We need to be intentional about cultivating the ability — and the willingness — to give. We need to make time for others.
Those of us who’ve studied in some of the world’s great yeshivos (Jewish academies of learning) know this. In Brisk, one of the most respected centers of Torah study, the great Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik once said he wanted his tombstone to say only that he tried to do something for someone else. Why wasn’t he learning at that moment? Because, in that moment, God didn’t want study — He wanted action.
Yes, we’re meant to learn. Yes, we should strive for that. But God also wants us to hear the cry of a child. The pain of a widow. The anguish of a parent whose child is being held hostage. We have to listen to the cries of the hostages. We cannot tune them out.
That’s what Judaism is really about. That’s what defines us. It’s not about checking a community service box or joining a cause to feel good. This is sacred work. This is service of God.
Yitzi: You’ve been a leader at a very successful organization, and you must have learned a lot from your experience. Looking back, can you share — based on your experience — five things you need to create a highly successful nonprofit organization?
Rabbi Scholar: First, you need a mirror — and you need a window.
The window is for vision. You have to look at what could be. Look out at the world through that window and allow yourself to dream. Dream about how a small idea can become a global movement.
Then turn to the mirror. Two things should happen when you look in it. First, you have to know who you are. And second, you have to know who you are not. Believe in your strengths, but don’t kid yourself about your weaknesses.
Third, surround yourself with people who can fill in the gaps — who can complement what you’re not.
Fourth, if you truly want to do something for the sake of Hashem (God), you need to build it on a foundation of chesed, which means kindness, and it needs to be done the Torah way. It’s not about personal glory. You need a Rav — a wise, trusted rabbi — who has the depth and strength to guide you. Chai Lifeline always had Rav Dovid Feinstein as its guiding authority.
And the fifth thing — maybe the most important of all — is to always remember that it’s not really you doing this. You can know your talents. You can hire the right people. You can have the vision, the plans, the rabbinical guidance. But at the end of the day, everything comes from Hashem. If you forget that, and start thinking it’s because of my vision, my skills, my fundraising — then the success becomes limited. Because it’s not about you. It’s all for Him.
Yitzi: With your great work and the platform you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could put out an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
Rabbi Scholar: Get young people more involved in community activities. Let them, like I said earlier, experience the satisfaction and fulfillment that comes from giving. Let them see how much of a difference they can make. And when the great ideas start flowing, we’ll already have the people ready to bring them to life.
Yitzi: This is our final question, what we call our matchmaker question. And it works a lot of the time. We’re very blessed that prominent leaders in the U.S. and around the world read this column. Is there a person with whom you’d like to have lunch, collaborate with, or sit down with? Because we could tag them and maybe connect you.
Rabbi Scholar: You know, there are great philanthropists out there who truly believe in children the way we do. Who really believe in overcoming disabilities, in building a stronger future, and in supporting Jewish leadership.
If we could get to someone like that — whether it’s Bill Ackman, or Mr. Safra from Brazil — [chuckles] — if we could connect with people who share that deep commitment to the Jewish future, I think we wouldn’t just continue the incredible work Chai Lifeline does every day. We could actually change the world.
And that’s the mission. First, change yourself. Then your family. Then your community. Then the world. And we are seeing that happen. There is a lot of good out there.
Just look at how the Jewish community has responded since October 7th. Look at the incredible grassroots initiatives and longstanding organizations that have stepped up — whether it’s Chai Lifeline, Hatzalah (a volunteer emergency medical service), or many others. So much is getting done because people are choosing to act.
Actually, let me share one little story. We were having a meeting in our office with some representatives from a bank we work with. The time came for Mincha — the Jewish afternoon prayer — so we stepped out and went into the conference room to pray.
While we were there, a man walked in. He looked like a rabbi, probably from Israel — he was wearing a long black coat. He started walking around the room collecting money. Everyone gave him something — a dollar, five dollars, whatever they had.
After Mincha, we went back to the meeting. One of the bank reps asked, “Who was that guy?”
I said, “I don’t know.”
He said, “What was he collecting for?”
I said, “I don’t know.” [chuckles]
So he said, “Let me get this straight. A man walks into your office. You don’t know him. He joins your prayer service. Then he walks around collecting money from everyone — without asking permission — and you don’t even know what it’s for. But everyone gave him something?”
I said, “Yes.”
He said, “Explain that.”
I told him, “That’s who we are. We are givers.”
That’s what we believe in. That’s what can change the world.
Yitzi: It’s an amazing anecdote. How can our readers learn more about the work that you’re doing? How can they support the work you’re doing?
Rabbi Scholar: Please visit our website: www.chailifeline.org. You can donate, sign up as a volunteer at any of our offices around the world, tell a friend about us, or just give us a call if you want to get involved. We see everyone who joins us as a partner in this mission.
Yitzi: I want to thank you so much for your time, Rabbi Scholar. It’s really been an honor. I hope we can do this again next year.
Rabbi Scholar: Thank you. I appreciate it.
Rabbi Simcha Scholar Of Chai Lifeline On The Five Things You Need To Lead A Highly Successful… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.