It’s an event employees of the JEM workshop look forward to all year, and this Passover was no exception when these adults with special needs gathered at the Gelber Centre for a festive third seder on April 26.
This was the 23rd year that Federation CJA has sponsored this evening of food, learning and fun adapted for people with intellectual, emotional and other challenges.
It is made possible by the volunteering of members of the federation’s YAD (Young Adult Division) and FedNext, which is for 18- to 25-year-olds.
The federation is the major funder of JEM, which was founded in 1950 and is recognized by Emploi-Québec. Today, JEM has 84 employees who work in a supervised setting on packaging jobs, mainly for private industry, earning minimum wage.
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Many of them have been employed at JEM, which is located on Mountain Sights Avenue, for a long time, and some have come to the third seders almost from the beginning.
“It’s a highlight of their year,” said JEM general manager Danny Kay, who has been at the workshop for 20 years. “No sooner is one over than they start asking about next year’s.”
The workshop exists for reasons other than providing a livelihood, he said. Its mission is to support employees in acquiring social and daily living skills, as well as strengthening their Jewish identity.
For some, the third seder is the only Passover celebration they have; others do go to a seder, but wouldn’t miss this one.
That’s because they think of each other as family, Kay said. Some, in fact, are married to each other or are couples, he noted.
Adena Schnarch, who has worked at JEM for 17 years, has been coming to the third seders for just as long.
“I like being with my friends and co-workers,” she said. “We learn about Passover and our ancestors. We sing songs.”
Schnarch goes to her brother’s home and to a seder put on by the MADA Community Centre, but the one with her “family” is special.
The young volunteers lead the reading of the Haggadah, the rituals and songs, and help serve the meal. There were three or four of them seated at each table chatting with their guests.
The ceremony, which is somewhat abbreviated, is participatory, with employees leading a prayer or reciting a passage.
Some volunteers went to the workshop earlier to make table centrepieces with their guests. Each table had a theme related to the Passover story with appropriate decorations.
Including those with special needs in the community is an important aspect of this annual program, said Kim Garzon, former YAD director and now Women’s Philanthropy director, as is encouraging young adults to give their time and get to understand people with challenges.
She has been bringing her two sons, age 14 and 16, to the seders every year since they were five.
“I decided to get involved in the federation, as it is an amazing organization that allows me to touch other people’s lives,” said FedNext co-chair Gabriella Hazan. “The JEM seder is my favourite event of the year. I love seeing the look of pure joy on the JEM volunteers’ faces.”
Her co-chair Cayla Paris added: “This was my third year involved in the JEM seder as a participant… I have been proud to be a part of CJA and play a role in bringing the JEM community together to celebrate important Jewish holidays and traditions like the Passover seder.”