Children across the tri-state area experienced the magic of snowfall this past Shabbos. But in upstate New York, in the Raleigh Hotel, a very special group of children experiencedmagic of their own: the magic of MISHKON.

This past Shabbos, Parshas Mishpatim, over forty children with special needs joined their friends and counselors from Camp Mishkon for a shabbaton to remember.

Each summer Camp Mishkon is home-away-from-home to more than sixty children with a broad range of disabilities and diagnoses. In Mishkon, there’s no such thing as impossible. A wheelchair-confined camper can dance, and a non-verbal child can sing. The power of love can rise above all handicaps.

For many of these children, camp is what keeps them going all year. This shabbaton is a ray of bright light in the dark winter months, a light that will stay with them until the next summer.

As the buses pulled up to the hotel, each camper climbed off the bus into the loving embrace of their counselor, and then they headed inside together, practically dancing around each other with excitement at being together again.

After a refreshing swim, everyone went upstairs to their rooms to get ready for Shabbos. Kabalas Shabbos that night was classic Mishkon. The campers and counselors sat in one huge circle; the tranquility of Shabbos permeated the room. Led by the head counselors, the children sang Shabbos songs together, faces glowing with happiness at being part of a Camp Mishkon Shabbos.

Throughout Shabbos, the joy was palpable. For almost 48 hours straight, the counselors reveled in the opportunity to care for their charges again. Outsiders who were staying at the hotel were amazed at the incredible devotion displayed by the counselors, with seemingly endless love, patience, and energy.

The climax of the entire Shabbos was on motzei Shabbos, when everyone changed into theircampt-shirtsfor the all-time Mishkon favorite… a concert by Shloime Bamberger!

All over the room, you could see children, so obviously handicapped, yet their faces were glowing with the joy of music. Song after song, both counselors and campers dance their hearts out; there is no one who doesn’t respond to the magnetism of the music. Even campers who can’t walk can still dance! But even the best things come to an end, and finally, the music ended, and each counselor helped her camper upstairs and lovingly tucked them into bed.

There was no question that this shabbaton was something exceedingly special. It was a Shabbos of love and laughter, of smiles and song; a Shabbos of precious friendships, and fun times, and of pure, pure joy.

After a filling breakfast, the luggage was loaded underneath the buses once more. The farewells were emotional, as each counselor took leave of her camper. One camper, who lives in a group home, kept repeating over and over again, “I need camp; give me camp.” The scene was especially poignant, because as of now,CampMishkonwill not be reopening next summer due to lack of funding.

“Camp Mishkon would like to thank all of their generous sponsors for making this shabbaton a reality, and bringing so much light into the lives of their special children. Special thank you to the Raleigh Hotel, and to Mr. Lerner and Mr. Koenig for making special accommodations for our children!” said Mishkon.

“And to Shaindy Nathan, for dreaming this shabbaton, and organizing every detail – the campers and counselors of Camp Mishkon are endlessly grateful!”