Independence Hall: Haven for Elderly

Hack Named Chairman
of Orthopedic Group

THE oET1e01T JEWISN NEWS
Friday, February 12,1971—V

NEW YORK—At a Jan. 24 meet-
So far, there's been only one ing here representatives of a num-
ber
of shoe stores which specialize
wedding, "but a of of romances."
it.
The reason is 212 elderly per- She added, "We see nothing, hear in prescription shoe fitting organ-
&Autry and imbertaimest
ized as the Orthopedic Shoe Asso-
sons, age 62 to 91, who without nothing and say nothing. And
ciation.
Independence Hall would be living the best thing for them."
Mounting pressure for some sys-
The residents who so desire have
in substandard housing, or with
children, or alone—Heaven knows plenty to do—movies on Wednes- tem of accreditation on the part
days and Fridays, club meetings of the American Orthopedic Foot
where.
To qualify for an apartment, the second Tuesday of the month, Society led to - the move.
Acting chairman is Morton
residents must be in good health potluck dinners, holiday celebra-
and be earning no more than $4,500 tions, bake sales. Some prefer the Hack, president, Hack Shoe Co.,
for one person, or $5,400 for a privacy of their own rooms; others Detroit, Other members of the
steering committee include Lester
couple, annually. Minimum earn- play cards till midnight.
NEW CAR MANAGER
ings are $2,000.
Works of two "resident artists" Weitsen, Eneslow-Apex Shoe Cor-
Efficiency apartments start at —Friedman and Martin Fide•-- poration, New York; Tom Mc-
HAS
Gillicuddy, Pedi-Mac Shoes, Bos-
$75 (to $85 for the top floors), and cover the walls, but the coodzi-
THE
one-bedroom apartments begin at butioas of other residents also ton; Martin Kramer, Martin Kram-
$100. All utilities except telephone are felt in various ways. Many er Shoe, Chicago; and John Mc-
are included.
have donated appliances for the Mahan, McMahan Shoes, Atlanta.
communal use of the residents.
It's an attractive building, with
DEAL
One even gave a movie projector.
For on Evening of
an assembly hall, a kitchen for
Sewn* Ihnerfeinneent . .
parties and well-stocked library.
The tenants pressured the DSR
FOR YOU
The assembly hall, Incidentally, to install a bus stop in front of
For Your Bar Mitiva or
was named in memory ef Harry
the building, and the hourly run
W•ddirlis, etc. . . .
AT
Berg, a tenant whose family
carries them to downtown shop-
donated the furnishings. Mr.
ping—in all weather. Although
Berg, they said, had been all
walking in the area still presents
AND HIS
over the world but found con-
a problem, the park is popular in
24625 W. 12 MILE RD.
Just west of Teteenoit
tentment, that Metre goal, at the summer.
Independence Hall.
Because of its location, the num-
-
354-6600
356-4745
The contentment has something ber of Jews who live in Independ-
to do with John and Helen Jones, ence Hall has been smaller than
one of the lucky things that hap- Rabbi Prero had hoped it - would
pened to Rabbi Prero. The Albu- be. Of 187 leased units (out of a
querque couple applied for the job total 216 units), only 43 are occu-
of resident manager after Schos- pied by Jews.
tak Brothers had been selected as
(In fact, the roster includes an
management company by the In- ethnic and racial cross-section—a
dependence Hall board of trustees. community of kindred spirits that
CUSTOM MADE FURNITURE—DRAPERIES
In the year the Joneses have seems to be totally unconcerned
been here, said Rabbi Prero, with differences, said Rabbi Prero.)
INTERIOR DECORATING
they've brought warmth and good
Knowing that Federation Apart-
273-1863
15335 W. 7 MILE
humor, as well as a genuine in- ments was to be constructed, many
terest in the welfare of the elderly persons eligible for Independence
residents.
Hall preferred to take their chances
Each is treated as an individual on the Oak Park project—closer
as the individuals they are—some to children, perhaps, or out of fear
Shippas Point, Stamford, Conn. 06902 Tel.: 203-325-2231
are complainers, some complain of the downtown locale, or simply
not at all, some are quiet, some because they wanted to be close
M. Schwarschili, Director
boisterous. The Joneses keep them- to synagogues and kosher butchers.
selves available at all times—she
The Joneses recall that a number
serving as social director, recep- of early applicants withdrew their
GRADES 9-12. POST GRADUATE
tionist, confidante, he as overseer names after their children had
American Jewish Home Life—Only 45 minutes from New York City
and general trouble-shooter.
seen the area. Yet, they feel the
• Faculty Student ratio 1 to 7—Supervised Study Help
For example, Mrs. Jones can initial vandalism problem has
• Individualized Scheduling—Stress on Fundamentals
produce a long list of residents who been practically licked. A fence
• Remedial and Progressive Programming
have locked themselves out of the has been installed and spotlights
• Cultural, Athletic and Recreational Programs
building, requiring the manager keep the environs well lit. There
INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE:
and his wife to drive 23 miles from is a security guard at night. To
Home Tel. 313-542-1834
•
Mr. Paul Rubenstein
home to let them back in. But the enter the building requires a key,
Joneses laugh about it now—after or the buzzer response from a
deciding they would be better off tenant.
living on the premises.
As for Jewish services, Rabbi
Prero said they are available to
anyone who requests them but
that there is little demand. On
the MA Holy Days, Young
Israel offered free tickets to its
own synagogue or at any other.
We're Celebrating Abe's Birthday (Lincoln that is)
He added that a member of
Dr. Bernard Lander, president Young Israel of Greenfield, Mor-
The Norman and Esther Allan
-
With
a Lincoln Center, Lincoln's Birthday Sale.
ris
Flatt,
provided
"sumptuous"
Foundation announces a $350,000 of Touro College, stated that the
packages to Jewish residents
grant for research into the prob- foundation is interested in creat-
before
the
holidays.
Mo'os
Hillm„
ing programs with major institu-
lems of the elderly.
the communitywide fund handled
Norman Allan, president, said a tions and universities in the U.S. by Morris Dorn, provided a
foundation has been established to and Israel to work on the follow- similar service an Passover:
Many to Choose from
Very Special Group at
create an institute of gerontology ing specific areas relating to senior
Rabbi Prero is convinced that
citizens:
Hearing, physical and emotional once Federation Apartments has
12
Values to $30
Values to $50
412
problems and psychological and admitted all its tenants, Independ-
ence Hall will receive more Jew-
social problems.
ish applicants. There already was
Among the institutions to be the an increase reported in December,
recipients of the foundation's bene-
fits are Touro, Hebrew Urdhersity, he said.
If working with the project has
T ec hnio n, Bar-Ilan University,
Weizman Institute, City of 'Hope, been "a terribly satisfying ex-
Very Yummy Selection
Great Selection at
perience"
for Rabbi Prero, it must
Shaare Zedek Hospital of Jeru-
be catching. Norman Allan, who
salem and Independence Hall.4
Values to $30
Values to $75
Robert Sosnick, president of In- chairs the board of trustees, has
dependence Hall, has resolved to added a new project to the many
personal contributions he made to
rename the residence hall the Allan
Independence Hall. He is setting
Towers, in honer of Allan's dedica-
up a $300,000 fund for gerontology
tion in the areas of senior citizens. (the science dealing with prob-
Allan is chairman of the board lems of the aging) studies at sev-
Unbelievable at
of trustees of Independence Hall.
Big Variety
eral institutions in the United
Rabbi Samuel H. Prero, president States and Israel. Another $50,000
112
of. the Young Israel Council of will go to Independence Hall itself.
Values to $75 _
NORMAN ALLAN
Metropolitan Detroit, has been (see story below).
named
consultant
to
the
Institute
For his role and support of the
for investigation of the needs - of of Geronology and will coordinate
Young Israel project, the board has
senior citizens and methods of aid-
the research program.
Sale Thursday thru Saturday! February 11, 12, 13.
decided to add the name Allan
ing people of advancing years:
Towers to Independence Hall, said
All Sales Final . . . Limited Quantities
Touro College, a newly created
liberal arts college in New York New Forest in 'nun Hills Rabbi Prero.
And
once
the
scientists
get
City, which will open a branch in
MEI AEI — Along the pre-1967
Israel in 1973, will coordinate the "Green Line" in the Irron Hills around to exploring the questions
program. Eugene Hollander, New of Samaria, the planting of a large Allan wants to see answered, they
York philanthropist, is chairman forest has been started by the might look in on Harry Friedman,
of the Touro board of trustees.
Jewish National Fund. The wood- who has- gained 20 pounds since
411.
The Institute of Gerontology /and will cover thousands of acres he came to Independence Hall.
who does his own cooking and
• Master Charge
• Ba nkAm eric ard
will collaborate with es _ tablished of wasteland which, during the
cleaning
and
who
laid
the
lino-
institutions of higher learning British Mandate, had been ear-
LINCOLN CENTER, OAK -PARK
both is this country and in Israel marked as a forest preserve since leum in his bathroom. "I've never
to research sped& areas et the the area is unsuitable for any other been so happy as I am today," he
said.
prOductive use.
seeds of the

By CHARLOTTE DUBIN
At 71, a man doesn't ask too
much of life—a window in the sun,
a few friends; a shelf to hold the
mementos and family photographs
he holds dear.
Harry Friedman has found all
that and, equally important if not
more so, the dearest value of all—
his independence.
Which is why Friedman's new
home—a 1.9-story apartment build-
ing—was called Independence Hall
in the first place.
While the Jewish Welfare Fed-
eration's apartment building has
been going up in Oak Park, another
highrise for lower-income senior
adults has been going through its
first year in downtown Detroit. For
Rabbi Samuel Prero, president of
Young Israel Council of Detroit,
which sponsored the project, it's
been a bittersweet year indeed.
Located on Chese sear La-
i a yette Independence Hall
emerges like • surprise among
the low-lying buildings is the
surrounding area, at the north-
eastern corner of Elmwood Park.
On three sides are high-rent town-
houses, expensive condominiums
and a 15-acre park; on the fourth
side, where Rabbi Prero envisions
—someday—a twin tower for his
Independence Hall, are the shan-
ties which were supposed to be torn
down by the city four years ago.
"You've heard the song 'Prom-
ises, Promises'?" Rabbi Prero
asks. "Well, we're still waiting."
But Rabbi Prero has lived with
hopes and disappointments — and
some happy results — for a long
time: since 1963 to be exact, when
the idea for Young Israel-sponsor-
ed senior adult housing was born.
By the time government approval
had been granted and the building
up, the Young Israel Council of
Detroit had put out $27,500 by con-
tract with the federal government
(returnable over a period of years)
and another $11,000 (over and
above the estimated $3,024,000 gov-
ernment - subsidized construction
figure) which the-council will not
get back.
Additionally, members of Young
Israel contributed $15,000 in fur-
nishings for the apartment build-
ing.

Larry Freedman

Rabbi Prero insisti it was worth

Norman Allan Gives $350,000
for Study of Problems of Aging

647-2367

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