The Empty Chair Project

On Seder night, one of the most family-oriented nights of the year, Navah tries to fill the empty chairs at the table with love and support. For the past 20 years, Navah has organized a central Seder for orphans, widows/widowers, and bereaved parents at a hotel, accompanied by a professional team, well-known speakers, and spiritual leaders. The 2-night/3-day accommodation includes professional workshops to empower the families as well as enjoyable and uplifting cultural performances. Over the past two decades, thousands have participated in Navah's Empty Chair project.

Who Will the Children Ask the Four Questions?

This year, as a result of the Swords of Iron War, there will be hundreds of bereaved families and orphaned children left without a parent to host the Passover Seder. Instead of experiencing the joyous family atmosphere typically associated with the holiday of freedom, grieving families face the daunting task of sitting opposite an empty chair, a stark reminder of their profound loss. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, this emotional burden can feel almost impossible.

Navah’s Empty Chair project seeks to provide support for these families, enabling them to come together for a shared Seder night in a nurturing and compassionate environment. The aim is to alleviate, even if only slightly, some of their pain and longing. Creating a familial, pampering, and joyful atmosphere, this initiative strives to establish a safe emotional space where families can celebrate the Passover Seder amidst their profound grief, supported by love and therapy.

Given the unprecedented number of newly bereaved families this year, Navah is partnering with the One Family Association on this important project.

What Makes this Passover Different?

The 2024 Empty Chair project for orphans, widows, and bereaved parents, along with their companions, will take place at the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem. It will accommodate approximately 400 individuals for a 3-day, 2-night stay. During this time, there will be entertainment for children, adolescents, and adults, along with a range of therapeutic workshops and activities led and supervised by mental health professionals, all within a supportive, nurturing, and comforting environment.

The special and meaningful Seder will offer bereaved families the opportunity to bring their pain to the holiday table, while also making space for joy and the sense of belonging that accompanies the Passover holiday. The Seder night will encompass both sorrow and joy, moments of pleasure and longing, and the empowering shared experience will strengthen and provide "the power of unity" for continued resilience.