20 | MARCH 25 • 2021

PASSOVER

D

uring Passover last
year, residents of
Jewish Senior Life
(JSL) were restricted to their
individual apartments to help
prevent the spread of COVID.
Group dining and other
activities, as well as visits from
family members, were eliminat-
ed. As a result, a few residents
chose to leave JSL and move in
with family members. These
strict precautions were mandat-
ed by the state because the age
and medical status of many JSL
residents made them especially
vulnerable to COVID.
The situation has improved
greatly as Passover approaches.
Eighty-two percent of JSL
’s 650
residents have been fully vac-
cinated for COVID. According
to Nancy Heinrich, JSL CEO,
health statistics are carefully
monitored. She says there hasn’t
been a resident COVID case at
JSL in some time. As a result,
small groups of residents are
able to eat together and enjoy
activities while wearing masks
and maintaining a safe distance.
Visitors are permitted at its
four JSL independent living
communities - Prentis and
Teitel Apartments in Oak
Park and Hechtman and Meer
Apartments in West Bloomfield.
At its assisted living communi-
ties (Fleischman and Coville),
visits are permitted for those
who test negative for COVID.
Transportation services are

being restored. Residents can
leave JSL for outside visits and,
in most cases, not be required
to be tested for COVID upon
return. As a result, Passover
should be much less solitary
this year. Residents have been
reminded that they should take
recommended CDC precau-
tions, such as limiting seders to
no more than 15 people from
no more than three households.
“We are restarting slowly
because there is still a risk for
transmission. We are anxious
to get residents engaged and
active,
” Heinrich said.
Passover meals will be deliv-
ered to each resident, along
with a seder plate for the first
two nights of the holiday. In
addition, gift bags with Pesach
candy and ingredients to make
charoset will be distributed.
Small group seders will be
held in some JSL communities,
conducted by local musician
Avi Schreiber, as well as staff
and volunteers. A special social-
ly distanced model seder will be
held for residents of the Memory
Care Pavilion. In addition, where
available, a livestreamed seder
will be broadcast in-house and
an audio version will be available
by phone.
Most important this Passover,
many JSL residents will be able
to see their children and grand-
children, even if masks are still
required and elbow bumps sub-
stitute for hugs.

JSL moves toward
a more normal
Passover.

Visitors
Welcome

SHARI S. COHEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Avi Schreiber will lead small
group seders at JSL this Passover.

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Happy Passover! Chag Sameach!

Hadassah Greater Detroit wishes you
a safe and healthy holiday

Wishing everyone a
Chag Pesach Sameach
and good health.

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