Weekly News & Updates
Caring for Older Adults Since 1907
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MARGOT & WARREN COVILLE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE |
Contact Janet Antin
248-967-4240 jantin@jslmi.org
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Each year during Hanukkah when the candles are lit, I slip unobserved into the past, recalling childhood celebrations. Conjuring up my parents as I linger near the glowing candles, the smoky fragrance of melting wax adds another layer to aromas in the kitchen. My mother at the kitchen sink, yellow Playtex gloves on her hardworking never-manicured hands. My father on the floor with me encouraging my fingers to pluck the keys of the piano to sound out a tune, one that he knows, “Embraceable You.” Forward my memory flies and turns to my adult children, but in their younger years as they played dreidel on the wood floors, seated near ripped wrapping paper, gifts of books and games, as I sat by the fire watching them, joining in, laughing, and joking and smothering them with kisses.
Back in the present, a puff of smoke billows from the final gasp of living flame as the blackened nubs of wick trapped in the dripping remains of candle wax - a reminder of work to be done.
I close my eyes and inhale. The window, cool to the touch, reflects the holiday behind me. The darkness during the new moon, provides a velvet backdrop for magical illumination. I see snow on the branches and snow on the ground, and I still see and feel the child within me. What once was greatly anticipated - the songs, the candles, the dreidels, my tiny red piano, the tinkling sound of high notes - a memory intermingled with the presence of sadness, of loss, of endings, of empty chairs, the knowing certainty of the final night of Hanukkah – and the cold and icy months ahead.
Retelling the miracle of the oil in the lamp that lasted 8 days, the miracle of the people who fought and fight still. Bravely taking a stand, fighting against hatred and antisemitism. Be brave, stay brave. I pray to myself. Consider the helpers, the Shamash who lights the light. Be the light. Light the night. Find joy in the memories. Joy can be fleeting, snatch it when we can. Now a grandmother, sharing tips and recipes with other grandmothers. Tips for menorah cleaning and polishing the artifacts in display cases and China cabinets that hold ancient knickknacks from generations past. Happy times, photos, and children’s art.
I retrieve the hand-painted art of my children and grandchildren from the holiday drawer and decorate the doors and walls and surfaces near the menorah to enhance my memories of young motherhood with young children who now are parents to their young children.
On Sunday, the first night, I placed playdough on the kid’s table. My 4-year-old and 8-year-old granddaughters wandered over to open the containers and lost themselves in creative play. Time marches on as I hum the tune in a minor key I used to sing repeatedly, “I have a little Dreidel, I made it out of clay, and when it’s dry and ready, O dreidel I will play…” Dreidels made of clay, of playdough, with sticky hands and dirty fingernails and love and memory and music. Look at the photos on the wall and find yourself in the eyes of your father, in the lips of your mother. Consider your own childlike excitement over candle lighting and opening presents and sharing a table with loved ones, as the last of the latkes are eaten.
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JSL has been bursting with Hanukkah activities this week! At Meer, Rabbi Rubenstein hosted a stimulating Hanukkah program. Henrik Karapetyan and his Klezmer band performed and residents enjoyed singing and swaying and tapping their feet to the beat of the music.
Hechtman residents held their annual Hanukkah party and enjoyed Tom Zakarian’s guitar, saxophone, clarinet, and songs. Director of Residential Marketing and Community Relations, Tracey Proghovnick, dropped off JSL Hanukkah gift bags to our local Synagogues and spread some holiday cheer. All West Bloomfield campus residents and staff were treated to a Hanukkah parade featuring decorated cars, music from Klezundheit, donuts and flag waving families and friends.
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WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS! |
Dining: Need volunteers to set dining room tables at Hechtman and Meer from 12-3pm Monday – Friday
Dining: Need volunteers to roll silverware at Hechtman and Meer from 12-3pm Monday – Friday
Dining: Need volunteers to pour beverages at Hechtman and Meer for dinner time service from 4-6pm Monday-Friday
Dining: Need volunteers to pour beverages at Fleischman for dinner time service from 5-6pm every day
BINGO: Need BINGO callers for evening activities
Entertainment: Can you play an instrument or sing? Do you have 30-45 minutes of musical selections that you can offer residents? We have a beautiful piano to offer musical recitals to entertain residents.
Gift Shop: Looking for volunteers to help work in our beautiful boutiques Tuesday from 1-3pm and Wednesday from 11am-2pm
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DETROIT HANUKKAH MEMORIES |
Highlights of Chanukah memories from the Detroit Jewish community are featured in a new music video from Reboot in celebration of its new Chanukah album A Great Miracle: Jeremiah Lockwood’s Guitar Soli Chanukah Record. In the video, Lockwood is playing the album track “Ritual” with a montage of Detroit area Chanukah photos. This is a love letter to the Jewish community of Detroit, celebrating the moments of togetherness that the holiday of Chanukah has fostered over the years.
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Feeling motivated for a longer workout? Try this one hour fun boot camp for seniors and beginners! |
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EDWARD I. & FREDA FLEISCHMAN RESIDENCE |
Contact Jill Bengle
248-661-2999 jbengle@jslmi.org
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When Elizabeth Silver, 91, moved to Norma Jean & Edward Meer Apartments four years ago, it wasn’t just to live in a new place. It was the chance to start a new life near old friends after raising 4 children, and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Elizabeth shared her harrowing journey with Meer residents Rena Tepman and Ralph Woronoff who interviewed her for the Meer monthly newsletter.
Elizabeth Michler Berenholtz Greenspan Dell Silver was born in Poland in 1930 and grew up near Warsaw with her large and fun-loving family until 1939 when the Germans arrived, and everything changed. She and her blonde, blue-eyed mother escaped with a couple of relatives, wearing all their clothing, they eventually sold to survive. Her family shared a home with the director of a Jewish Theater where Elizabeth learned to dance, sing, and tell jokes. These skills have helped her connect with her friends at JSL. Myriam Cohen, Life Enrichment Coordinator says, “She holds court at Meer and participates in Comedy Night telling her spicy jokes.” Elizabeth enjoys taking creative writing classes with Meer volunteer, Shari Cohen. She continues exercising to stay strong and to rehabilitate her new knee. She is an avid participant in Cyma Carn’s Current Events Class.
Elizabeth’s story is told in “Portraits of Honor” at the Holocaust Memorial Museum. She is one of the Holocaust Survivors featured in Keith Famie’s film, “Shoah Ambassadors” that appeared recently on PBS. Elizabeth would like to get a tape recorder so she can continue to share her story. She is currently working on a book about her life.
Special holiday thanks to all of our caring donors. Because of you, our residents enjoy active and purposeful lives at JSL.
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EVALUATING FAMILY MEMBERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS |
Barb Giles, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Jewish Senior Life, details evaluative measures to take to ensure the well-being of older adults in your family this holiday season. |
Please join us as a sponsor or friend of JSL for our annual Lives Well Lived fundraiser!
Your support provides our residents:
- Health & Wellness Programming
- Diverse & Exciting Speakers
- In-house Entertainment
- Art Supplies
- Large Print Books
- Gardening Supplies
- Seasonal Floral Arrangements
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Looking for a fun and rewarding place to work…. Look no further!
Jewish Senior Life is hiring servers for the Dining Rooms on the West Bloomfield Campus!
Flexible schedules and great hours!
Great opportunities for teens after school!
If interested, please call or email
Jodi Panter 248-592-1104 or jpanter@jslmi.org
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Apple Sage Stuffing Latkes
INGREDIENTS
Vegetable cooking spray
1 loaf of sliced bread (I used rye), cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fennel seed
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
2 small Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
PREPARATION
1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. On a baking sheet, spray the bread with cooking spray. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes, until toasted. Transfer the croutons to a bowl.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil. Add the onion and celery and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the garlic, fennel seed and sage and cook for 1 minute, add the apples and remove from heat. Mix well and add to toasted bread.
5. Add eggs and add broth as needed to make a nice consistency.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Now, you can bake or fry. If frying, heat a large frying pan with a layer of oil for frying. Spoon out a portion of mix into the hot oil and flatten with the back of a fork. Let cook until browned, then flip and cook the other side. Remove cooked latke to a paper towel. Reheat in oven if desired.
8. If baking, preheat oven to 400. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spoon out small portions of stuffing onto the tray. Flatten them and bake for about 20 minutes or until nice and crispy. If baking, place the batter in mini muffin tins and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes or until browned. Enjoy.
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Myron L. "Mynie" Milgrom
2012 Eight Over Eighty Honoree
May his memory be a blessing to his family
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Our entire JSL community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life at Oxford High School. We are sending love and support to the students and families.
Learn how you can help:
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Rabbi Dovid S. Polter, JSL Community Chaplain
Eight Lights; Eight Stories;
Eight Life Lessons of Chanukah
The tallest of the senior facilities where I used to serve was an eight-story building. One year while preparing for my Chanukah event, I opened with the question, “What is the relationship between your facility and Chanukah? Look up and you might discover the answer”.
“Rabbi,” a resident proudly remarked, “there are eight floors in our building.”
Indeed, it was the eight days of Chanukah and eight floors, stories. Each of the eight days of Chanukah provides its own story, just as each Chanukah candle shares its own light and lesson.
So let us personalize Chanukah, the historic festival of lights, for it provides each person with eight lights, eight stories and eight opportunities for self-growth.
We are granted the gift of discovery of what the story and lessons can be. A great Sage once declared, “the silent lights of Chanukah tell a resounding story, a story of hope, strength and victory.”
Shabbat Shalom by Phone - Enjoy some inspiration
Call in for a nightly Chanukah menorah lighting
Sunday, Nov. 28th – Monday, Dec. 6th
Dial Toll free: 605-313-4107 Access code: 270368#
(Reference number not needed)
Dial # to hear the most recent recorded message.
Rabbi Dovid S. Polter Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program Jewish Senior Life
248-592-5039 • dpolter@jslmi.org
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Nancy Heinrich, Chief Executive Officer
Kara Powers, Chief Financial Officer
Barbra Giles, Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives
Jo Strausz Rosen, Executive Director, Development
Dianne Azzopardi, Executive Director, Human Resources
Ron Colasanti, Executive Director, Dining Services
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This newsletter was created by Jo Rosen and Amanda Martlock
We’re human, prone to mistakes, so if we erred in our newsletter, please forgive us!
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People of all faiths and beliefs are welcome. |
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