Passover 2011 for our elders in long term care

Passover 2011

Imagine moving out of your home and saying “goodbye” to your previous life. When one moves into an independent, assisted or skilled living facility, the Activities Director knows how to put together a beautiful party for Christmas, Valentines Day and Easter, but he or she is unlikely to have the foggiest idea how to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Purim and Passover. Therefore, Shabbat and the Jewish holiday celebrations are not found on Activities calendars across the nation.

Only in Orlando, Florida will you see Jewish holidays listed on the calendar and next to them will be the words “The Jewish Pavilion.” The Jewish Pavilion sounds like the name of a place, but in reality it is a place in the heart. This outreach organization with a skeletal staff and over 400 volunteers ensures that EVERY Jewish individual in long term care in the greater Orlando area is included in the Jewish community. So that on one feels alone in the world, volunteers visit every week. Pavilion staff arrange for Shabbat and holiday celebrations.

There were tears galore as over 300 seniors celebrated Passover with their friends from the Jewish Pavilion. One hundred year old woman exclaimed “I never thought I would ever see another Seder in my life.” While most of her teeth were missing, she was able to thoroughly enjoy a piece of gefilte fish and an egg. When Ella and Ben Colley ages 8 and 5 belted out the four questions in Hebrew, you could hear the seniors singing “Mahnistanah” under their breath. Gentile friends were invited to join in the festivities and everyone clapped and sang along to “Dyenu.” Jewish Pavilion Executives Director, Nancy Ludin, commented “I always make the effort to attend many holiday celebrations, because residents share memories associated with the holiday. Most people spoke about beautiful Seder tables and experiences they shared with their siblings revolving around the afikomen. Others spoke about sitting at the Seder table listening to Hebrew prayers until midnight without a morsel of food. One woman remembered a secret Seder in the woods during the Nazi occupation where one potato was cooked and shared by the entire family and the ashes were buried so that would not be found.

No one wants to be forgotten…it is the mission of the Jewish Pavilion to enhance the  quality of life of our elders in long term care and strengthen their connection to the community. Please support this effort to enrich the lives of nursing home residents by visiting http://www.jewishpavilion.org/  or e-mailing info@jewishpavilion.org.