A stay at the hospital typically means that camp is off limits, but for the younger patients of two Israeli hospitals, summer camp has been coming to them.

Geared specifically for children whose stays in the hospital preclude trips outside, counselors with Chabad-Lubavitch of Ashkelon have been running a day camp in the children’s wards of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon and Kaplan Medical Center in Rechovot since the beginning of August. The camps, which feature arts and crafts, music and carnival-style games, conclude this week.

The project is run in cooperation with the Colel Chabad charitable organization.

“Our visits definitely make an impact on the children,” reports Sarah Lieberman, 21, one of the counselors. “It’s wonderful to be able to give these patients something special to do for four-and-a-half hours each morning.”

According to Rabbi Menachem Lieberman, executive director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Ashkelon, many of the children have classmates taking part in camps throughout the country.

“The camp allows the children to have fun, which makes the job of parents and medical staff that much easier,” said the rabbi.