THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Two Generations Gain from Visits to JFA
By BEVERLY WOLKIND
Jewish Welfare Federation
It's more than a mitzva.
The youth group mem-
bers who visit residents at
the Jewish Federation
Apartments in Oak Park
also are gaining an under-
standing of older people, an
awareness of the respon-
sibilities of the Jewish
community and, of course,
the enjoyment of tales and
reminiscences that only the
elderly can proVide.
Youth group programs
are part of an ongoing effort
to enrich the lives of both
young and old, according to
_Helen Naimark, executive
'rector of Federation
_partments. Sheldon P.
Winkelman is president of
JFA, which is a member
agency of the Jewish Wel-
fare Federation.
For the past several
years, a number of young
people have been visiting
the residents for holiday
celebrations, monthly help
with chores or just informal
time for chatting. Among
c, those who participate are
high school students from
Adat Shalom Synagogue.
Affiliated with United
Synagogue Youth, the Mig-
dal Tzion (Tower of Zion)
chapter consists of ninth-
12th graders who visit JFA
on a Sunday every month or
two as one activity in their
social action program. They
are led by Cantor Earl Be-
rris, youth director at the
synagogue.
Prior to their visit, Mrs.
Naimark posts a sign-up
sheet for the residents.
The young people may be
asked to help with a
variety of household
jobs, from vacuuming
and washing windows to
helping change dishes for
Pesach. And there's al-
ways time for sharing a
cookie and a story or two
with "part-time
grandparents."
The students look for-
ward to the visit as much as
the residents, according to
Elizabeth Alpern, social ac-
tion vice president for the
Adat Shalom group. "We
really get excited about go-
ing," she said. "When we
come in, they tell us they've
been looking for us. When
we come down from the
apartments after helping,
we always have stories to
tell." She adds that the par-
ticipants often spend extra
time just sitting and talking
with the residents.
One reason the young
people say they enjoy their
special Sundays is because
"it's helped us a lot in view-
ing older people." Elizabeth
feels that when new mem-
Ilers first participate in the
program, they are uncom-
fortable. However, -they
soon lose that feeling. The
program, she says, "lets us
understand our own
grandparents better." The
students feel that the visits
give them a feeling of "how
you should help in the com-
munity."
Students at the Sally
Allan Alexander Beth
Jacob School for Girls also
take part in what Mrs.
Naimark calls "inter- ,
generational activity.'
Members of the "Smile
Club" for seventh-10th
graders gather with the
senior citizens every Thurs-
day afternoon. The program
is coordinated by 12th
graders Chava Teitelbaum
and Rivka Freimark under
the guidance of their princi-
pal, Rabbi Sholom Golds-
tein.
On a typical Thursday
afternoon, about 20 girls
arrive at JFA as leaders
Chava and Rivka dis-
tribute cards with resi-
dents' names. There is
much • excitement as the
students form small
groups to visit the
seniors, many of whom
are now "special bud-
dies," according to Mrs.
Naimark.
Both residents and stu-
dents exclaim about how
they've missed each other
and how nice it is to be to-
gether. As the girls greeted
Mrs. Rose Colman on a re-
cent visit, she responded, "I
missed you gals," and told
them how much she loves
them. She shared some re-
cent family photos and
asked student Debbie
Schramm to read aloud a
poem written for her by her
granddaughter.
Because they have de-
veloped affectionate feel-
ings for the "special bud-
dies," the group's activity
has gone beyond the initial
purpose of a visit and a chat.
Some of the girls have
brought homemade gifts for
residents; others helped a
blind resident prepare tape
recordings. At Purim, the
group came in costume and
distributed goodies after
entertaining with song and
dance. During Shabat,
many of the girls visit on
their own.
"It makes you think about
your own parents when they
get older," says Chava. And
seventh grader Gittie Sil-
verstein adds that people
have negative feelings
about the elderly, "but
when you get to know them
better, it (your perception)
changes."
As other young people
visit the Federation
Apartments, Mrs.
Naimark greets them and
takes time to "share con-
cepts about older
people." For example,
when the fifth grade class
from Hillel Day School
visited, they talked about
older people and the
children toured an
apartment. "Someone
always has a bubbie or
zeide here," says Mrs.
Naimark, "and so the
kids.are very receptive."
The residents theniselves
recall with fondness those
young people who have
taken the time to share
happiness with them, like
the fifth grade classes from
Temple Beth El who con-
ducted a model Seder, and
the kindergarten group
from Mishkan Israel
Lubavitcher Center who
entertained and distributed
gifts at Hanuka and Purim.
There have also been spe-
cial programs presented by
the junior congregations of
various synagogues and
Bnai Brith AZA and BBG
chapters.
New Mikva
Doubles Use
Members of the Smile Club of the Sally Allan Ale-
xander Beth Jacob School for Girls are shown visiting
friends at the Jewish Federation Apartments. In the
top photograph, the girls are shown with Mrs. Milly
Snitz and her seeing-eye dog Samson. In the bottom
photograph, Mrs. Rose Coleman shows the girls some
family photographs.
k .411 4 , 11
4
SAN FRANCISCO (JTA)
— A new mikva in San
Francisco has attracted
twice as many users, in its
first• year of operation, as
the old mikva it replaced.
Ava Brand, president of
the San Francisco Mikva
Society, said the new Mikva
Israel - Bnai David facility
is being used by more than
100 women each month,
compared to fewer than 50
women at the old location,
according to the San Fran-
cisco Jewish Bulletin.
•
Friday, May 7, 1982 19
Nazi Deportations Expected
Any youth groups who
want information on start-
ing a project at JFA can con-
tact Helen Naimark, execu-
tive director, 967-4240.
NEW YORK — The di- ahead" will bring the first
rector of the Justice De- deportations of Nazi war
partment's Office of Special criminals hiding in the
Investigations, Alan A. United States, but that
Ryan, has told the World . when the process begins "it
Jewish Congress that he will be a trickle, not a tor-
expects that "the months rent."
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MEM,
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AMMON
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Audrey Lorber
585-7223 or 559-6022
MINIM
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1110.
A memory you will have forever .. .
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