CHAG SAMEACH! –
April 2, 2023 – In the age of smart phones and internet, your Seder-booking experience is breeze. Yet, those who are in treatment centers may have a hard time experiencing the “freedom” of attending a seder.
The Jewish Recovery Center (JRC) and The Jewish Federation (JFS) have jumped into action, coordinating with safety protocols of the local treatment centers to pull off a “Passover miracle” for its patients.
According to the JRC, Jewish residents in treatment will have the opportunity to celebrate Passover, the holiday marking the ancient Hebrews’ deliverance from the Egyptians, during a special sober community seder on Wednesday and Thursday evening.
“The best-known quote from the Pesach Haggadah is, ‘why is this night different from all other nights?’ For some, this quote took on a whole new meaning with their journey to recovery from addiction,” said Rabbi Meir Kessler, Director of the Jewish Recovery Center.
“There’s something bittersweet about a Seder for someone on the road to recovery. After all, Passover celebrates liberation from captivity, something an individual in recovery longs to experience,” said Sharon, a member of Jewish Recovery Center.
In the past, some attendees hold back a tear at the Haggadah line “Tonight we are all free men,” said Kessler. He said that organizations who send their clients to the seder, hope that “through positive spiritual engagement, the lives of the attendees will improve, and that when they return, they will feel energized to apply themselves to recovery.
