In the wake of this morning’s devastating accident on the New Jersey Turnpike that claimed the lives of four young yeshiva bachurim from Lakewood and South Fallsburg, Chai Lifeline’s Crisis Intervention Team has been working around the clock to support families, friends, and community members grappling with shock and grief.
“This is an unspeakable tragedy. Our hearts are with the families and the entire community during this time of overwhelming loss,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “Our New Jersey and New York crisis teams have been providing guidance and support since the moment the news broke, helping families, rabbanim, and peers process this painful reality with sensitivity and care. In moments like these, we are reminded of the strength of Klal Yisroel, standing together, mourning together, and supporting one another.”
Chai Lifeline’s trained crisis responders have been deployed to affected communities, schools, and yeshivos, offering counseling, trauma guidance, and group interventions. Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, Director of Chai Lifeline Crisis Services, has issued the following practical guidelines to help parents, educators, and community leaders navigate conversations surrounding grief and tragedy.
Rabbi Mordechai Gobioff, MSW Chai Lifeline National Director of Client Services added that “Our crisis hotline and response teams have been inundated with calls. People are struggling to comprehend this loss, and our goal is to provide them with practical tools and emotional support to get through the coming days. We’ve been coordinating teams across our regions to ensure that families, schools, and communities receive the guidance and care they need as quickly as possible.”
“This is a very raw tragedy, and our initial focus must be on allowing families space, and on being aware of our own emotional reactions,” said Rabbi Sruli Fried, MSW, director of Chai Lifeline New Jersey. “It is normal to feel grief, shock, or fear. Talking through these feelings with someone you trust, and maintaining daily structure and connection, are key steps toward emotional healing.”
Chai Lifeline encourages anyone in need of support to contact its 24-hour crisis hotline at 855-3-CRISIS. New Jersey families can contact njcrisisis@chailifeline.org and New York families can contact crisis@chailifeline.org for additional guidance.
The guidelines from Rabbi Dr. Fox for addressing such sensitive issues with young people are so necessary. It’s not easy to talk about loss, especially with children, but having a structured approach can really help families and educators find the right words.