One of the most exciting events of Spring, especially for JCHC, has to be Passover! For those who may not be familiar, Passover commemorates the liberation of Jews from the Egyptian pharaoh as told in the Book of Exodus. Passover usually lasts between seven and eight days and begins with Seder. During Seder, families gather to retell the heroic story of how the Israelites escaped from Egypt, while enjoying symbolic food and drink like Charoset, matzah, and wine. But how did these symbolic traditions emerge and are they celebrated any differently today? The Origin Story of Passover In order to understand how the Passover traditions came to be, we have to go back to the beginning. As told in the Book of Exodus, the Pharaoh fears that the Jews living in Egypt will overpower the Egyptian people. With this in mind, he decides the best way to preven this is to enforce slavery and demand that male Jewish babies be killed in order to prevent further reproduction of Jewish people. The mother of Baby Moses refuses to accept this fate, and secretly floats him in a basket down the Nile river. Baby Moses is later found and adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter coincidentally. When he grows older, Moses flees into the desert after killing an Egyptian slave master and encounters a burning bush of God. He urges Moses to go back to the Pharaoh and lead the Jewish people out of slavery. Moses asks the Pharaoh to let the Jews go free from Egypt. Each time the Pharaoh says “no,” to Moses, God sends a different consequence (or plague) for Egypt. The final consequence is the most drastic: the slaying of the firstborn Egyptian child. In order to protect their first-born children from the angel of death, the Jews marked their doors with lamb’s blood, so that the angel of death would pass over them. The name “Passover” originated from the fact that God actually “passed over” the houses of the Jews when slaying the firstborn of the Egyptians. Passover is also known as “Pesach” in Hebrew, which is based on the root meaning “to pass over.” When the Jews were fleeing Egypt, the bread they had prepared for their journey did not have enough time to rise, thus Matzah was created and is now an integral part of this Jewish holiday. How Passover is Celebrated Today One of the most significant ways to commemorate Passover, that still reigns true today involves the removal of chametz from your home. This pays tribute to the creation of matzah and the Jews not having enough time for their bread to rise. It is also symbolic to the way Jews sacrificed their arrogance and pride in order to be free. Chametz refers to any food that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water and contains the five major grains: wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats. Another major way to celebrate Passover, that is perhaps the most fun, is seder. Most Jewish families have at least one Passover seder, some choose to have two. Each food that is served during the Passover seder is symbolic to the origin story. For example, bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery and charoset (link to published blog when ready) represents the mortar used by the Jews to build structures under Egyptian rule. Jewish Traditions at Lester Senior Living in New Jersey If you’d like to know more about how we are commemorating Passover at Lester Senior Living, or if you have any other questions regarding our assisted living services, please contact us today. We’d love to hear from you. Original content posted on jchcorp.org/how-is-passover-celebrated-today/
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Sweet apples, toasted walnuts and spicy cinnamon make Charoset the perfect last bite to any meal. However, it’s traditionally served during Passover. If you’re unfamiliar with this joyous spring holiday, the celebration of Passover commemorates the freeing of the Jews from slavery under the Egyptian pharaoh as told in the Book of Exodus. Passover usually lasts between seven and eight days and begins with ritual feasts known as seders. During seder, families gather to retell the heroic story of how the Israelites escaped from Egypt, while enjoying symbolic foods like Charoset. Why Charoset is symbolic to Passover is a little more complicated. Some believe that Charoset represents the mortar that the Jews used to build Egyptian buildings. Others believe it refers to a sacred fruit plant mentioned in the Song of Songs and the Talmud. Either way, Charoset is an on-going tradition and we’re glad to hear it! Here is how we make delicious Charoset at the JCHC communities in New Jersey.
Ingredients for Charoset:
Here at the Lester Senior Living Community, we understand how good nutrition plays a big part in maintaining an active senior lifestyle. We equally understand that the way our food tastes is just as important! Our culinary trained chefs in Morris County take pride in curating delicious and unique dishes that cater to every dietary preference, from kosher, vegetarian, low-carb options, and more. For more information about senior dining options in Morris County, NJ, please contact Lester Senior Living today: (973) 929-2725. You could also visit our website to learn more about what it’s like to live in a JCHC senior community: https://jchcorp.org/assisted-living-morris-county-nj/ Original content posted on jchcorp.org/how-to-make-charoset/ It’s Employee Appreciation Day and we’d like to give “Ah groisen dank” (a big thanks) to all of our staff members throughout the Jewish Community Housing Corporation. All of our residents are in the right hands, thanks to your hard work, dedication and compassion. A special shoutout is in order for a few outstanding staff members from the Lester Senior Living community. If we had to describe the staff at Lester Senior Living in particular, it would be that they are a team that doesn’t really stick to titles or positions. They aren’t afraid to pitch in with tasks that are outside their comfort zone. Every department provides a helping hand to one another which is truly an incredible thing to see. Without further ado, let us introduce a few (of the many) wonderful staff members from the Lester Senior Living community in Morris County, NJ. Nettie Leander – LPN/Medical Secretary Nettie is dedicated, enthusiastic and truly our ‘go to’ person. Nettie is the true definition of a “Universal Worker.” She dances with the residents, shares health knowledge wherever needed and goes above and beyond for our residents and family members. Sergio Serrano Perez- Wait Staff Sergio is loved by everyone. He crosses over in so many departments and never hesitates to jump right in. The residents think the world of him as he not only focuses on exemplary dining service, but also socializing and adding to their day in the most meaningful of ways. Ann Marie Bass- Concierge Service Manager, Lester Independent Living What can I say about Ann Marie? She is everything! Why? Because she truly does it all. When it comes to customer service she covers all ends of the spectrum, from returning calls promptly to making sure every resident makes the most out of their assisted living experience with JCHC. Keisha McDonald – Community Life Coordinator Keisha makes all the magic happen for our assisted living residents in Morris County! She really goes the extra mile to keep our residents social, engaged and entertained. We swear she never runs out of ideas for fun! Not to mention, Keisha manages to do this while keeping residents safe from COVID-19. She truly is a rockstar and we’re all so lucky to have her!
Join the Fun at Lester Senior Living in Morris County, NJ Lester Senior Living is part of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, a collection of senior living communities in New Jersey that help engage a fun, safe and active lifestyle for seniors. During COVID-19, we’re not only working hard to keep your loved ones safe and healthy, we’re also doing all we can to keep them social! If you’d like to find out more about our senior activities and care services in Morris County, NJ, give us a call today: (973) 929-2725. Or you could visit our website to learn more about community life at Lester Senior Living: https://jchcorp.org/activities-for-seniors-nj/ Original content posted on jchcorp.org/employee-appreciation-day/ Yoga is ideal for seniors seeking to relieve stress and clear their mind. Regular practice will not only improve balance and mobility, but it may also help ease back pain, relieve depression, and even reduce blood pressure for older adults with hypertension. It’s important to note that improving balance and mobility will directly impact a senior’s likelihood of falling. The more agile you are, the less likely you are to fall – it’s really that simple. So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to try out yoga! If you’re not sure what type of yoga to start with, don’t worry – the team at the Jewish Community Housing Corporation has put together a list of the 3 most popular types of yoga for seniors. Chair Yoga This beginner yoga class is best for seniors just starting out, or seniors with injuries, chronic conditions or who have trouble balancing. The chair allows you to perform yoga poses while sitting or standing. Some classes may lead with chair poses exclusively, but many beginner-friendly classes will let you choose whether or not to use the chair for each pose. Senior chair yoga classes at Lester Senior Living are led daily by our activity assistant, Kendra Asfor. Pictured on the right are Frances Goroll (front) and Gertrude Perlman (back), assisted living residents who regularly participate in chair yoga at Lester. This picture was from Frances’ 100th birthday – she actually led the class that day! Frances exercises daily and says it helps keep her going. If you are interested in taking senior yoga classes at our assisted living building in Morris County, NJ, please contact Lester Senior Living today. Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga classes focus more on stress relief and relaxation, rather than moving from one pose to another. This type of yoga is recommended for seniors recovering from an injury. Poses in this class are held for a longer period of time in order to strengthen the injured area, as well as to relax your mind. Using objects like yoga blocks, cushions and straps will help support your body in all restorative yoga poses. Hatha Yoga “Hatha” refers to the standard practice of yoga. In general, you can expect a hatha yoga class to be basic with slower movements that pair breathing exercises with postures. It’s more active than restorative yoga, so it is recommended for seniors who have had a little experience with yoga already. With that said, most hatha yoga instructors expect to have all different types of “yogis” attend with various experience levels. They should provide appropriate modifications for each experience level. However, it’s important to call the fitness center in question ahead of time to make sure the hatha class can suit your needs. Active Senior Living in Morris County, New Jersey All of the JCHC senior communities in New Jersey have experienced staff members on-site to help support and engage the most active lifestyle for each resident. We strive to provide a variety of fitness options, so all residents have the chance to enjoy and take charge of their health and wellness. Have you been wanting to try yoga? Head down to the fitness center for a chair yoga class in our Lester Senior Living building. Our instructors take the time to modify the class for each resident’s fitness level and provide essential one-on-one support when needed. Not to mention, we love to have fun and try new poses weekly! For more information on all of our senior activities, please visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org/activities-for-seniors-nj/ Original content posted on https://jchcorp.org/yoga-for-seniors-at-jchc/ For many Jewish families, Purim wouldn’t be complete without Hamantaschen or the “triangle cookies” that are a traditional part of the holiday. These staple cookies are so simple to make once you gather the right ingredients. Not to mention, you can fill the center pockets of each cookie with whatever filling you like! For this recipe, we decided to alternate between apricot preserves, raspberry jam and Nutella. Without further ado, here is Jewish Community Housing Corporation’s signature recipe for Hamantaschen cookies!
Ingredients:
Cook Time: 15 mins Directions:
Can’t be bothered to bake? At Lester Senior Living, our chefs are always baking something. For more information about senior living activities in Morris County, NJ, please contact JCHC: Lester Senior Living today: (973) 929-2725. You could also visit our website to learn more about what community life is really like in Morris County, NJ: https://jchcorp.org/assisted-living-morris-county-nj/ Original content is posted on https://jchcorp.org/how-to-make-delicious-hamantaschen-cookies-before-purim/ |
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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