Fortune Society Hosts Unique Passover Seder

On March 30, dozens of people whose lives have been impacted by the criminal justice system celebrated a unique Passover Seder which drew parallels between the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt with their own personal stories of deliverance and freedom.

Hosted by The Fortune Society, the Seder featured two stars of stage and screen who are also long-time supporters of Fortune. The Passover story was told by actor Jordan Charney and Tony Award-Winning actress Christine Ebersole who sang freedom-themed spirituals. Fortune is based in West Harlem and in Long Island City, Queens.

The Seder was organized by former theatrical press agent and producer David Rothenberg – who also founded The Fortune Society more than 50 years ago. Fortune is one of the nation’s most respected nonprofit organizations serving and advocating for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Rothenberg said, “From refugees fleeing tyrannical dictatorships in the Middle East, to immigrants from South America seeking asylum and protection in America, throughout the centuries, we have seen historic parallels to the Exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. None is more personal to me than the journey of people being released from prison – many of whom have lost all hope after years of living in a violent, dehumanizing place. They come to Fortune and find a path to freedom and a new and better way of life. I’d like to thank Jordan Charney and Christine Ebersole for sharing their wonderful talents with Fortune and bringing new meaning to Passover for those we serve.”

Among those who shared a personal “passover” story was former Fortune client Casimiro Torres. In September of 2005, Torres, then 38 years old, was homeless, sleeping on a park bench. With 67 arrests, 16 years in prison and more than 30 years on drugs, he believed his life was at a dead end. Someone told him he could get a free MetroCard at The Fortune Society. He came to Fortune with the intention of selling the card and using the money to buy drugs. But the people at Fortune, many formerly incarcerated and in recovery, convinced him to stay. Thirteen years later, Torres, who is a Credentialed Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselor, also serves as the superintendent of Fortune’s 114-unit mixed-use, supportive and affordable residential development complex in West Harlem. He is happily married with two successful grown children.

Torres said, “Fortune put me on a path to freedom. It was a difficult and long journey, but I now have a life I never dreamed I could have.”

The Passover menu included charoset, matzo ball soup, roasted chicken, spinach with garlic and herbed potatoes.

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ABOUT THE FORTUNE SOCIETY: Founded in 1967, The Fortune Society has advocated on criminal justice issues for more than five decades and is nationally recognized for developing model programs that help people with criminal justice histories to be assets to their communities. Fortune offers a holistic and integrated model of comprehensive service provision. Among the services offered are discharge planning, licensed outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, benefits enrollment and access, alternatives to incarceration, HIV/AIDS case management, health services, career development and job retention, education, family services, and supportive housing as well as lifetime access to aftercare. For more information, visit www.fortunesociety.org.