A Time of Renewal and Hope

“How is this night different than all others”? – that is the question that is asked each year during the Passover Seder. This year, Passover, which begins this Saturday, and Holy Week, with Good Friday next week and Easter Sunday, on April 4^th, will again be different. While many of us may be used to large gatherings during the holidays, this year, like the last, we again expect smaller gatherings with only our immediate family. We are still facing the COVID-19 pandemic and many precautions and restrictions are still in place. But while the pandemic is not over, this year will be somewhat different than last.

This time last year, the country shut down. The Wilf Campus too had to close its doors and put in place unimaginable restrictions in order to protect our residents and clients. Our lives instantly changed, and no one could have predicted the challenges ahead. We are extremely thankful to our staff at Stein Assisted Living and Wilentz Senior Residence, who’s dedication to our residents has been unwavering during this most difficult year. Our staff at Stein Hospice and Wilf At Home, have continued to provide the highest quality care to our clients, wherever they call home. At Wilf Transport, our staff rose to the challenge and continued to provide safe and reliable transportation to our seniors. We could not be more proud or more appreciative of all their hard work, dedication and compassion during this past year and always. While we still have a long way to go, this March is different than the last because a brighter future finally feels within arm’s reach. At the Wilf Campus, we have been able to provide COVID-19 vaccines to our residents and staff and have once again opened our Stein Assisted Living community and have begun to welcome our residents’ loved ones for indoor visitation. For all our organizations, we have begun to return to a sense of normalcy with caution and many safety protocols in place.

Passover and Easter both mark a new beginning and hope, as does the spring season. At the Wilf Campus and around the world, this spring there is more of a sense of hope for a brighter future. While we love and remember those we have lost and work to continue to protect those within our care, this spring we are hopeful that we will have a better year ahead.

I wish you a Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

May we be blessed that the symbolism of spring, as representing in this holiday season, be a time of renewal and hope and be a guiding light in our lives as we emerge from these challenging times.