Now more than ever, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate our religion and culture – especially in a world where antisemitism still exists. It is our absolute right and duty to recount the horrors that took place during the Holocaust in order to protect future generations. Knowledge is power, and it is crucial for everyone to understand that one should never be punished for a religion or culture that they were born into or choose to follow wholeheartedly.
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, we vow to never forget. We will never forget the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the 11 million additional innocent victims of the Nazi regime by keeping their stories alive. During the Holocaust, the choice to be brave (no matter how small the action may have seemed) was a matter of life and death. The strength to stand up for what was right when it seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel, is the legacy of the survivors. As an organization rooted in Jewish values, the JCHC knows it is our responsibility to acknowledge the history of the Holocaust and recount these stories of survival from our very own senior residents. A Brief History While good memories are the ones you don’t want to forget, the bad memories are the ones you MUST never forget – for it is the bad memories that teach lessons and shape us to be better people. The Holocaust must be remembered, to ensure something this horrible can never happen again through people who are supposed to fight for the good of all people. During World War II under Adolf Hitler’s rule in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust was the mass genocide of Jews in Eastern Europe. The scariest part is that this was a systemic, state-sponsored persecution targeting the Jewish population – and anyone who openly opposed it would also be persecuted. Antisemitism was the foundation of the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler made Jews a scapegoat for everything that was wrong with Germany after WWI, spreading his hatred and persecution of Jews across Eastern Europe. Antisemitism became a core ideology of the Nazi party. It’s important to remember that this process started slowly, and by the time everyone caught on to what was happening – it was too late. It started with Hitler and the Nazi party using elected officials in local governments to purposefully exclude Jews from German society. This slowly evolved into discriminatory laws being passed and organized violence disguised as justice that targeted the Jewish population. This growing radicalization finally culminated in a plan to “solve the Jewish problem” by mass murder. Between 1941 to 1945, Hitler, Nazi Germany and their allies killed nearly two out of three European Jews through brutal living conditions, mass shootings and through specifically designed killing centers famously referred to as “concentration camps” with names like Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau. While most of these facts are well known to older Jews, we are many generations removed from the events of the Holocaust and our children must learn, remember, and recognize the sacrifices made by our great grandparents. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” ? Ben Franklin. How The JCHC Honors Holocaust Survivors Today, January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation of European Jews from the Auschwitz concentration camp. The United Nations designated this day to honor the memory of Europe’s Jewish population and others who were held in concentration camps or targeted by the Nazi regime. As this day means so much to us, there was no hesitation to capture the real-life stories of our residents who lived through the Holocaust on film. Their powerful experiences of strength and courage deserve to be heard and remembered, even years from now. To watch their emotional interviews, please follow our Facebook pages as we will be reposting their stories throughout the day. Follow Jewish Community Housing Corporation on Facebook. Follow Lester Senior Living on Facebook. Follow Village Apartments on Facebook. How You Can Remember, and Ensure Others Remember “No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire.” ? L. Frank Baum. Start a conversation. Talk to your non-Jewish friends about what really happened during the Holocaust. More importantly, talk about the dangers of antisemitism, hating someone for what they are or where they come from. As long as we are not hurting anyone, everyone has the right to practice their religious beliefs or cultural values. History can repeat itself, if we do not remember or learn from it. If you want to start the conversation on a larger scale, you could also repost the interviews from our senior living residents on your Facebook page. When reposting, make sure to use the hashtags: #WeRemember, #NeverForget and #LesterHolocaustRemembranceDay to keep the stories alive and circulating throughout the world. Knowledge is power, and it is up to all of us to use that power for good. Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/never-forget/
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The phenomenon of seniors losing interest in life is called anhedonia and it is not a condition to take lightly, as it can easily lead to depression or other mental health disorders. This issue is vitally important to shed light on as Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches. One key legacy of the Holocaust survivors was their ability to take a step each day towards their freedom, no matter how hopeless life seemed. Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author, talks about this drive to keep moving forward despite the odds in his book Man’s Search for Meaning. His psychotherapeutic method of “identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about and then immersively imagining the outcome,” is one we could all learn from.
At the JCHC senior communities, we’re going to take a page (or two) out of Frankl’s book. We understand more than most how older adults can lose their way, and these words of wisdom can help you reignite the spark for life. Choose a Positive Attitude Obviously, this is easier said than done, but Frankl summarizes this in a way that really clicks. “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” This notion of choosing your attitude was put to the test for Frankl when he first arrived at Auschwitz, the main Nazi concentration camp. While waiting on line as a prisoner, he realized the SS officers were putting people into two categories: 1. Those who seemed fit enough to work and 2. Those who were deemed unfit and sent to death by gas chambers. Despite the sheer horror of the situation before him, Viktor Frankl chose the attitude that would spare his life. He chose to appear stoic and composed because this was the only thing in his power to control: how he responds to the circumstance before him. If Frankl can choose a positive attitude during one of the most horrifying events in our history, then we can definitely work towards our responses to situations in our day to day lives. One simple way for seniors to begin is by writing into a gratitude journal every morning. They can start each day on the right note by writing down everything they are thankful for in their lives at the current moment. Gravitate Towards Love During Frankl’s imprisonment, he realized there are three concrete ways that one could find meaning in their life: through work, suffering or love. He refers to this ideology as “The Will To Meaning,” and has found throughout his experiences that love was the strongest way to find a meaning in life. “The salvation of man is through love and in love.” What kept him moving forward at the concentration camps was his wife who he had been separated from. Envisioning the way she smiled, or imagining what it would be like to be reunited with her, helped Viktor persevere through the toughest of experiences at Auschwitz and Dachau. As we must consistently choose a positive attitude, we must also consistently choose love in our lives. Gravitate towards the people who make you feel happy, validated and safe – whenever you are with them. Finding meaning through the ones we love happens when you prioritize spending more time with them. One simple way seniors can do this is by scheduling a weekly activity, like a daily walk, with a loved one. Turn to FaithEveryone experiences suffering throughout their life. Big or small, there will always be suffering. However, there is one powerful thing to remember: there is freedom at the end of our suffering if we believe in something greater. When the concentration camp was finally liberated, Frankl walked the grounds days after. Seeing the place he was once imprisoned change from hopelessness to free and open made Frankl fall to his knees and thank his faith for leading him to freedom. He recited the following over and over, “I called to the lord from my narrow prison and He answered me in the freedom of space.” Turning to faith can be a very powerful mechanism for finding purpose in life. Seniors can take the step towards faith by joining a local church, synagogue or mosque. If they’re not sure which faith to turn to, experiencing a weekly service could be the best way to decide if they’re in the right place. Meaningful Senior Living in NJAt JCHC’s Lester Senior Living, our passion is aiding seniors in having meaningful experiences every day. We offer a wide range of tailored support services for older adults in an environment that prioritizes quality care, purpose and socialization. Designed to empower the connections between residents, our lively activities program is updated monthly with a variety of classes to suit everyone’s interests. Some of our most popular on-site activities include Sit & Be Fit, Movie Matinees, Bingo, Trivia Nights, and JCHC University Classes which sponsor lifelong learning. As a faith-based community, we also have a synagogue on-site where we hold weekly services and read many life lessons from the Torah. For more information about meaningful assisted living and independent living experiences for seniors in NJ, call us today or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/3-ways-for-seniors-to-find-meaning-in-life/ Mindfulness, coupled with meditation, is all about being in the moment. Through practicing meditation, seniors can maintain full awareness and acceptance of their own thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings. When we are truly mindful, we notice and accept our thoughts on what’s happening around us without immediately reacting to them. One of the biggest benefits of meditation is having the capacity to decipher what deserves our reaction and what doesn’t, as this helps preserve our energy for more positive experiences throughout the day. In this article, our team at Lester Senior Living will discuss more about meditation and the indisputable benefits it has on seniors in our community.
What is Meditation? Meditation provides a time of quiet reflection and a short respite from daily cares. This practice uses mindfulness and breathing techniques to focus the mind on a particular thought, object, or activity to help achieve a greater sense of mental clarity and calmness. It can be done as guided meditation with an instructor or alone. We recommend starting with just a few minutes a day and working your way up to 20 or 30 minutes. All you need is a comfortable straight-backed chair, a quiet room and an open mind! 5 Meditation Benefits for Seniors The benefits of meditation (in short) are a more focused mind, better memory recollection, improved digestion, enhanced mood and reduced stress. Let’s take a look at these in more detail:
Meditation Classes and More at Lester Senior Living in NJ As we mentioned above, residents at Lester Senior Living enjoy “Balance and Mindfulness” classes on a weekly basis. In addition, we also have yoga, Zumba and stretching classes, or the option to work out in our fitness center on their own time. Excitingly enough, we are also in the middle of renovating our 2nd floor to expand our state-of-the-art fitness center! With this renovation, we look forward to offering our assisted living and independent living residents even more options to improve their physical health in the New Year! For more information about fitness and activity classes at our senior living community in Morris County, please visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/the-benefits-of-meditation-for-seniors/ Although we’ve already celebrated a new beginning with Rosh Hashanah, New Year’s Day is a second chance to reflect and change for the better. Starting the New Year off on the right foot means thinking about the future. For older adults, thinking about the future should absolutely include senior care options. If your senior loved one is looking to make a positive change this year in terms of their living arrangements, here are some key factors they should consider in assisted living.
Quality Assisted Living in New Jersey Most of all, moving your loved one to an assisted living community should elevate your loved one’s quality of life. However, this can only happen at a community that the whole family can trust and believe in. We encourage you and your loved one to visit Lester Senior Living in Whippany New Jersey to see how our community can do just that. We’re sure that you’ll find Lester is dedicated to maintaining the independence and dignity of your family members through assisted living care services, social programs and strong bonds between staff members and residents. Ensuring everyone that chooses to live here will receive the support, stimulation and purpose they truly need. For more information about our senior living options in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at: https://jchcorp.og Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/start-the-new-year-on-the-right-foot-in-assisted-living/ |
AuthorWe offer seniors a range of options in terms of housing, services, amenities, location and cost, all within the Jewish tradition: independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite, affordable housing, enriching programs, and on-site services for our residents, many of whom have special needs. Archives
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