Hanukkah can be a difficult time of year for those struggling to cope with the loss of a l
Hanukkah can be a difficult time of year for those struggling to cope with the loss of a lColel Chabad

Regardless of their religious background, the holidays can be a particularly difficult period for many families - both emotionally and practically.

This is particularly true for those who have lost a parent or spouse, as those left behind often struggle to cope with the emotional strain of celebrating without their loved ones. Recognizing this fact, Colel Chabad, the oldest continuously running social welfare organization in Israel, is hosting a special Hanukkah retreat for 260 orphans and widows.

Called "Cesed Menachem Mendel" after the last Lubavitcher Rebbe, the program is taking place at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem, and will provide the 75 families with a variety of entertainment and therapeutic activities specifically designed for the emotional needs of those who have lost parents or a spouse in recent years.

"The participants in our program are people for whom the concept of holidays immediately reminds them of their personal losses," explains the program's director Rabbi Amram Blau. "Our objective is to let them know they are not alone and that there are others thinking about them at this time - and to give them a great new holiday memory."

The program, now in its tenth year, is one of many run by Colel Chabad, which was founded in 1788 by the first Rebbe of the Lubavitcher Chassidic movement, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, with the goal of supporting the welfare needs of the community in the Holy Land.

Since that time the organization’s activities have continued and responded to the growing needs of the Israeli population. Colel Chabad runs a year round assistance program for widows and orphans, providing food, clothing and social services for close to 300 widows and over 600 orphans annually. Tutors and social workers help monitor the child’s education and development, and the the program also offers career counseling, training and interest-free loans as assistance for parents.

"The vision of Colel Chabad is to look beyond the instant solutions in charity but to find ways that will have a lasting impact upon those in need," says Rabbi Menachem Traxler, Director of Volunteering for Colel Chabad.  

"This program is a realization of that understanding, by giving strength to people at a particularly difficult time of the calendar which then gives them a heightened ability to cope and confront the challenges throughout the year."