From Silence to Belonging: Tova’s Journey

At Pesach, we retell the story of a journey from isolation to belonging, from silence to finding a voice. For Tova, that journey has been deeply personal.

Growing up, Tova had caring classmates and valued their friendship. Yet learning and socialising in the same way as her peers wasn’t always possible, and she longed for connections where she could truly be herself.

At 12 years old, Tova’s parents reached out to Kisharon Langdon and she joined their Brady Youth programme. From her very first sessions, something changed. For the first time, Tova was surrounded by people who understood her. Week by week, she formed genuine friendships built on shared experiences, laughter and equality. Holiday schemes became a lifeline – joyful for Tova and reassuring for her parents.
Most importantly, Tova began to relax. She no longer had to mask who she was. Once shy and often speaking in a whisper, she gradually found her confidence and her voice in a safe, nurturing environment.

After finishing school, moving on to Kisharon Langdon College felt like coming home. Familiar faces, trusted staff and friends from Brady Youth made the transition feel natural and secure. The College’s warm, family atmosphere and strong Jewish values were especially meaningful to Tova and her family. The structure, routine and sense of belonging helped her flourish.

Tova said with pride “I like going to Kisharon Langdon College because it is small and like a family and I get so see all my friends. I like that they are preparing me to go to work.”

Through work experience and drama classes, Tova developed independence, learned to advocate for herself and took pride in her achievements. Performing in end-of-term shows, with her family in the audience, has become a highlight – helping her share milestones alongside her siblings and feel deeply connected to her family and community.

Tova’s mother, Rachelle, said “Tova has gained new life and work skills at college, which are tailored to her needs. It has been wonderful watching her confidence grow.”

The sense of belonging is especially meaningful at this time of year. Across Kisharon Langdon’s services, people are preparing to celebrate Pesach together. Mock seders will take place in supported living homes and education services, while those supported have been creating personalised afikomen bags and taking part in educational sessions about the meaning of the festival.

To make the celebrations accessible to everyone, Kisharon Langdon has also created its own easy-to-follow Haggadah, helping the people it supports take part in the Seder and enabling staff, including those less familiar with Jewish traditions, to confidently support each person to celebrate in a way that reflects their own customs and level of observance. Staff have also undertaken training to deepen their understanding of Pesach and how best to support meaningful participation.

Rachel Ucko, Kisharon Langdon’s Head of Jewish Living and Community, said “The Jewish Life team has delivered extensive staff training to ensure colleagues feel confident and well equipped to support people in their Pesach observance. We created a clear checklist, complete with step by step timelines, and as a result, staff feel significantly better prepared for Pesach this year.”

Today, Tova’s journey continues. With future support on offer from Kisharon Langdon’s employment programmes, social enterprises and community initiatives, she can look ahead with confidence and hope.
At Pesach, we celebrate freedom not only from physical slavery, but from loneliness and uncertainty. Thanks to your support, Tova is free to be herself, and young people like her will always have a place where they belong.