In a new and moving short film, Chani and Chezki Lifshitz, directors of the Chabad House in Kathmandu, share an intimate chapter of their lives: the story of their 24-year-old daughter Cheli, who is on the autism spectrum.
The film, created by Revital Belalli Zimmering and published by Hidabroot, a Jewish TV network, marks the first time Cheli has appeared publicly, with her full consent.
It candidly portrays the challenges involved in raising a child with special needs in a country like Nepal, alongside the family’s determination not to give up, neither on their mission nor on Cheli’s development, choosing instead to transform hardship into a source of meaning and inspiration.
Chezki and Chani Lifshitz have served as Chabad emissaries in Nepal for 25 years, running what is considered one of the busiest Chabad centers in the world, hosting hundreds of guests daily and organizing large-scale events year-round. The couple has six biological children and one adopted son from Nepal, Bim, who was taken in from the streets.
The film focuses on Cheli, their second child, who grew up in a deeply complex reality. “Living in Nepal is like living hundreds of years in the past,” said Chani. “Extreme poverty, crumbling infrastructure, water that doesn’t always run from the taps, and most of the day there’s no electricity. There’s no communication-focused preschool, no specialized schools, and no developmental services like those in Israel.”
The breaking point came when Cheli’s special needs became apparent amid the pressures of their high-profile, public life. “What do you do when you realize your child has special needs, and you live a public life where you host hundreds of people each day in your home?” Chani asks. Despite the difficulty, the couple chose not to give up, neither on their mission nor on Cheli.
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Chani and Cheli (right) Lifshitz
(Photo: Yonatan Katz, from the film streamed on Hidabroot)
“Out of the bitter came something sweet,” Chani said. “We harnessed our togetherness, our sense of community, for Cheli’s sake. The people who stay at our house, Nepali workers and Israeli travelers alike, talk with her, play with her, interact with her."
The film details the extraordinary efforts the family made for Cheli’s development: enrolling her in an American diplomatic school, hiring expensive private aides, and flying in professionals from Israel. “Every month I brought in an occupational therapist and speech therapist from Israel. Around-the-clock therapy far more than a typical child receives,” said Chani.
The result, she said, is profoundly moving. Cheli learned to speak, communicate and express herself, developing what Chani describes as “exceptional self-confidence.” Chani added with a smile: “She’s sure she’s the smartest, most beautiful and most talented person in the world."
One of the film’s key messages is the family’s refusal to let autism define them. “We’re not ‘Chezki and Chani, parents of a child with special needs,’” said Chani. “We run the Chabad House in Kathmandu, and we also have this challenge. No shame, no hiding, no privileges."
The film doesn’t shy away from difficult moments either: a crowded Shabbat table with hundreds of guests, a kiddush where Cheli loudly repeats every word, or when she snatches food from a guest’s plate. “We don’t hide, but we also don’t apologize,” said Chani, calling it a deep lesson in humility.
Travelers who pass through the Chabad House mostly leave with one impression: sweetness and authenticity, says Chani. “We’re always giving, but we gain just as much in return. People open up to us, share their journeys, because they see we are going through a journey ourselves. We’re not pretending everything’s perfect."
Cheli was born at the very start of their mission, and her parents consider her development their greatest success. “First and foremost, I’m a mother and a wife,” Chani concluded. “Investing in our family is the foundation. Our children are proud of Cheli, they show her off. What we have here is a special melting pot of family, purpose and acceptance."