More Than A Meal - Goodman JFS Hand-Delivers Dignity & Joy To Holocaust Survivor This Passover

Beyond tradition and nourishment, these visits offer a vital connection for many seniors—nearly half of whom experience loneliness—making each delivery not just a meal but an emotional and memorable experience for all. Goodman JFS, serving one of the largest Holocaust survivor populations in the U.S., is transforming these deliveries into moments of hope and holiday spirit. Each Kosher meal package includes traditional favorites and a personal note.

Passover runs from the evening of April 12th to April 20th.

About Viviane Yassur

Born in Fes, Morocco in 1939, Viviane's early life was shaped by adversity. As antisemitic laws spread in 1940, her family was forced from their home in Fes to the Jewish Quarter--The Mallah Ghetto, where essentials like bread and milk were rationed. Growing up undernourished, Viviane battled Tuberculosis and various medical conditions from a young age.

Most of what she knows about her time in Mallah was told to her by her parents. However, she does have memories of the darkness, consequently causing her to live in fear. She later learned that the darkness stemmed from curfews and blue paper covering the window panes to conceal their presence from the outside. To this day, she is still afraid of the dark.

Despite these challenges, Viviane's resilience shone through.

After the war, an opportunity emerged for young people to study in the United States and return to their country to teach what they studied. Viviane would go on to earn a full scholarship to UCLA for a certification to teach English. Her time in LA was transformative, living with a Psychiatrist's family and helping care for their daughter while going to school.

Returning to Morocco, Viviane taught English briefly before moving to Israel, where she continued her teaching career and met her first husband, an American. The marriage ended in divorce, but she later found love again in Maryland, where she worked as a bookkeeper. Viviane and her second husband eventually retired to Hallandale Beach. She has no children but remains close to her nieces and holds a rich history of memories from a life of resilience and reinvention.

This Thursday Goodman JFS leaders will personally visit 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and Hallandale Beach resident Viviane Yassur to deliver her Passover Seder meal and holiday package at Highland Park Village in Hallandale Beach.