Passover is a time of tradition, connection, and gathering around the Seder table with friends and family. Yet for those who have lost a loved one, the holiday can feel tender and bittersweet, marked by an empty chair and cherished memories. If you are carrying grief during this season, please know you are not alone.
Join Jewish Family & Children’s Service on Wednesday, March 25 from 2:30–4:30 pm at Temple Beth Sholom for The Empty Chair at the Seder – A Passover Workshop for Bereaved Jews. This gentle and supportive gathering will offer space to reflect, share, and find comfort in community and tradition.
Co-facilitated by Reva Farenback-Brateman, JFCS Geriatric Case Manager & Community Educator, and Rabbi Richard F. Address, Director of Jewish Sacred Aging and JFCS Board member, the workshop will explore thoughtful ways to navigate the holiday with compassion for yourself and your loved one’s memory. Topics will include:
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Creating meaningful traditions to honor those who have passed
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Managing feelings of isolation and building supportive connections
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Practical ways to hold both grief and gratitude at the Seder table
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Preparing for emotional moments that may arise during the holiday
Whether your loss is recent or from years past, The Empty Chair offers a warm, understanding space to remember, to connect, and to find strength in community.
This program is free and open to all; advance RSVP is appreciated. For more information or to register, please contact Reva Farenback-Brateman at (856) 424-1333 ext. 1184 or rfbrateman@jfedsnj.org.
Grant funding for this program has been provided by the Raymond & Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation.
