In January, National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section (NCJW) will begin a new session of the Jean Stein Block Wife-Widow-Woman support group for recently widowed women. The goal of the program is to bridge the gap between grief and growth reducing the sense of isolation experienced from loss of a spouse. The Jean Stein Bloch Wife-Widow-Women program helps participants on their personal journey to becoming more independent single women in a coupled world.  

“People who are experiencing like emotions are able to be the most supportive as one rebuilds after a loss” says Eleanor Rosenbaum, the volunteer who coordinates the group.   

The Jean Stein Bloch Wife-Widow-Women program, beginning its 40th year, aims to provide a source of comfort, giving participants a safe place to talk about the issues that they may be unable to discuss with family and friends.  

A recent program participant explained, “Women in the group quickly bond over similar experiences and are able to comfort each other facilitating our own healing in the process.” All recently widowed women are welcome to participate and may be of any age, race or religious background. There is no cost to join the group as it is underwritten by Nardie and Sally Stein, in memory of Jean Stein Bloch, and Berger Memorial.  

The next session begins Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the NCJW office, 295 N. Lindbergh Blvd. in Creve Coeur. The upcoming session will be led by licensed social worker Sylvia Nissenboim. Participants must pre-register in order to join the group, which meets twice a month, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  For more information, contact Heather Silverman at [email protected] or call the NCJW office at 314-993-5181.