Coping With Tragedy

Posted on March 23, 2015



Areyvut joins the community at large in offering our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Sassoon and Jemal families on their tragic loss.

Following the Brooklyn fire tragedy that took the lives of 7 beautiful children, it is important as a community to find ways to cope, reflect and engage in conversation. We cannot begin to offer an explanation as to why this tragedy occurred, but what we can do is offer resources in order to help all those who are suffering cope with the recent heartbreak. 

We hope that these resources are useful to you and again we offer our deepest condolences. 

HaMakom yenachem et’chem b’toch shar avay’lay Tzion v’Yerushalayim.

May God comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
  1. Fire safety 

    The FDNY released a fire safety document that encourages the celebration of Jewish heritage while following certain safety guidelines. 
    http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/safety/fire_safety_education/2010_02/12_fire_safety_for_jewish_observance_english.pdfHome fire safety checklist from Teaneck Shuls
    http://www.teaneckshuls.org/files/HomeFireSafetyChecklistTeaneckFireDept.pdf 

  2. Talking to children after a tragedy

    In this video, OHEL’s Dr. Norman Blumenthal offers advice on how much we should tell our children and how to provide truthful information. For further help, contact [email protected]
    http://bit.ly/1N75Y7V

    Dr. Margi Sermer gives tips on what adults can do to help their children deal with a traumatic event
    https://bnaiisraelsouthbury.org/Dr._Margi_Sermer

    The Center For Anxiety offers advice on how to talk to children about scary world news
    http://www.centerforanxiety.org/talking-to-children-about-scary-world-news/   

    10 tips for talking to students about a tragedy from Scholastic
    http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/10-tips-talking-students-about-tragedy

  3. Dealing with tragedy
    Dr. Norman Blumenthal and Rabbi Raymond Beyda discuss how we can all cope following the most recent tragedy.

    http://www.learntorah.com/lt-shiur-details.aspx?id=9239

    Jewish Education Center of Cleveland shares insights on how to respond to crises
    http://jeccrespondingtocrisis.weebly.com/
    Rabbi Edythe Held Mencher, LCSW talks about coming together after a tragedy
    http://blogs.rj.org/blog/2012/12/14/coming-together-after-tragedy/