A Menorah Park Minute
Friday, June 5, 2020
Looking into Our Near Future at Menorah Park

Nothing can replace a hug, a kiss or a gentle touch. Every day our staff is doing their absolute best to ease the emotional toll that the restricted visitor policy is taking on our residents. Syracuse Jewish Family Service, along with our clinical staff, have helped tremendously as they work to keep residents in regular contact (by phone or video) with their loved ones. It was extremely disheartening to learn that we may not be reopening to visitors in the near future.  

But while we wait for guidance from the State and County Health Departments, we continue to work towards that near future, when we can welcome back our families and visitors.

I also wanted to take this time to share with you what Menorah Park will look like in that near future.    

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and the community, you will see:
  • Our refreshed Welcome Center, where families and visitors connect and enjoy one another
  • New equipment to safely transfer residents while preventing injury to staff
  • State-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment
  • Enhanced gardens for everyone to enjoy
  • Expanded menus offering a variety of delicious options for residents
  • Renovated dining rooms that offer more space and comfort
  • Reinforced main entrance to include tempered glass, new sliding doors and an access control system for the security and safety of our residents.

I want to thank all our families and our community for your unwavering support and understanding during this difficult time. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me at (315) 446-9111, ext.114 or by email , if you have any questions or concerns.
Be well and stay safe.
Mary Ellen Bloodgood, CEO
We are so incredibly blessed to have such a generous and caring community. Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Menorah Park Web Updates
We are working diligently to keep our entire Menorah Park family updated on the status of COVID-19 on our campus. Click here for daily updates
Video Call Safety

We are so fortunate to have the technology to connect our families with their loved ones during this very difficult time of restricted visitation. Recently, the staff at Syracuse Jewish Family Service has expressed concern that some family members are engaging in video chats while driving. For the safety of our families and the well-being of our residents, SJFS will no longer facilitate calls when a family member is driving on the road. As always, your SJFS contact is available to work with you to reschedule for a more convenient time.

Oaks Hair Salon Reopens
Saying we’re excited to see our two favorite hairdressers come back to the salon is the understatement of the decade! Richard and Mickey returned to the Oaks on June 4 th . Adhering to strict NYS guidelines including PPE and infection control, they're ready to style our residents.
Oaks Activities
We continue to cautiously expand our activities for our residents, with more socially-distanced small group discussions and balance & relaxation exercises. Many thanks to Oaks Director Patricia Shepardson, SJFS Director Judith Huober, SJFS staff member Jancy Ball, and volunteer/auxiliary president Janis Martin for their creativity, energy and expertise.

Virtual "Rap with Rabbi"
Pre-COVID-19, Rabbi Evan Shore from Shaarei Torah would spend three days a week discussing aspects of Judaism with our residents. "Rap with Rabbi" was a time for everyone to connect and discuss the issues of the day in the context of their faith. During COVID-19, Rabbi Shore was determined to maintain that connection through video. In “Parashat Nasso: "love of kohain”, with his warmth and gentle humor, Rabbi discusses the role of the rabbi as teacher, spiritual guide and even social worker. With “Stop the Hate” Rabbi discusses this week's current events, reminding us that the last word of the Kohain's threefold blessing is “Shalom”. "Shalom" means "peace" but it also means “hold it together ---the opposite of fractured, separate and apart.”   
VIDEOS:

Stop the Hate (6/4/20)


How Are We Doing?
We sincerely want to hear from you. We encourage you to tell us how we are doing - both what we're doing well and what we can improve upon. Click here to submit your comments and questions. Select COVID 19 Comments & Questions from the drop down menu. Thank you for your input.