For any given chag, there are those who are unable to participate. A cornerstone of Jewish communal pride is easing the difficulty of holiday observance. This practice was made visibly manifest on Tuesday, September 8, when middle-school teenagers from Valley Chabad’s Linking Hearts, led by Rabbi Yosef and Estie Orenstein, visited the Jewish Home in River Vale.

The participating teens, hailing from towns throughout the Pascack and Saddle River communities, constructed an afternoon filled with fun and activities for the elderly residents. These included creating celebratory New Year cards and honey dishes, as well as playing a game of Jewish bingo. Linking Hearts is but one of five programs that fall under the umbrella of the Valley Chabad’s Teen Leadership Initiative, which provides various educational, social and community-service opportunities for local Jewish teens.

The Jewish Home plans to continue collaborating with Linking Hearts, providing monthly programs that will bring Jewish-oriented activities to its residents. The next scheduled will be a challah-baking class on October 13. The program is open to all teens, regardless of affiliation.