Friday, December 28, 1984 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS n ancient Arab folklore, when Mohammed couldn't go to the moun- tain, the mountain obliged and came to him. Young Israel of Southfield applied this same principle to the Meyer L. Prentis Manor-Jewish Home For Aged 18 months ago. When con- gregants realized that Prentis resi- dents could not come to. Shabbat serv- ices, they began bringing Shabbat services to the residents. Erwin Posner and his three sons started their walks to Prentis Manor almost two years ago. After a vacation in Holland, and a visit to a town where the only place to get kosher meat was the old age home, Posner began won- dering what religious services were available for the Jewish elderly in De- troit. The Posners, of Southfield, began leading services Shabbat mornings at Prentis Manor on alternating weeks, and eventually, turned it into a "pet project" of Young Israel of Southfield. The service still takes place every other week, but instead of Posner and his • sons bearing the sole responsibil- ity, the project is now structured so groups of three or four Young Israel members attend on a rotating basis, leading the residents in a complete Shabbat service with an abbreviated Torah reading. The service usually attracts be- tween 15' and 20 "regulars," but ac- cording to Posner, If only we satisfy one or two people who happen to have this background, then we feel happy about it." And the program seems to be doing just that - making people happy. The home is happy with the volun- teers; the volunteers are happy with what they are doing; and the residents, above all, love the link to their faith and their community. The program allows the "congreg- ants," unfortunately out of the mainstream of Detroit Judaism, to maintain their ties to their faith. "How else would we know we're Jews?" asked one resident. Many residents say the Posners' efforts have had a special effect on them, but Posner stresses that, "We don't play social worker, but it's great to see their reactions." Just as Prentis Manor enjoys a very special relationship with its many volunteers in all areas, Young Israel of Southfield has developed its own special relationship with the resi- dents. "We've kind of adopted Prentis Manor," says Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg. "The residents are very ap- preciative and very receptive. We can't forget — and we don't let them forget — that old people are the greatest Young Israel of Southfield sponsors twice-monthly Sabbath services for the elderly at Prentis Manor. . William Pug liano 72 Prentis Manor resident Abraham Heit. PRENTI SABBAT BY JEFFREY GUYER Staff Writer source of Jewish knowledge and in- sight." According to Cheryl Riskin, assis- tant director of Jewish Home For Aged and administrator at Prentis Manor, "The whole thing started out as a real challenge, but the feedback of the resi- dents and the Young Israelites is an accurate measure of the program's success. "They (the Young Israel mem- • bers) are truly dedicated to what they are doing. That they are enjoying it and getting something from the old people really adds to it." As for the resident reactions? "They love it!" says Riskin. "They see it as a link to the community — that they are still part of the community. "We can provide them with just about anything," continued Riskin, "but we can't be the community. Al.- though in a sense they've changed homes, they are still members of the Detroit Jewish community. They still need to know what's going on, and they want people to know what's going on with them." But the relationship goes beyond Shabbat services. A genuine bond has formed between the residents and the Young Israel members, Riskin pointed out. "It's nice that people are coming in and talking about real things with them — not just asking about their health and telling them how their relatives are doing." Almost realizing that no Shabbat service is complete without a sermon, the residents are treated to a spiritual message from one of their own. Rabbi Leon Fram, founding rabbi of Temple Israel and currently resid- ing at Prentis Manor, uses his valu- able insight into the weekly Torah portion and current events to relate a real message to his "congregation." "I feel honored to be able to speak here," he said. "This service is very special to us. We look-forward to it." These remarks echo the senti- ments of Rabbi Goldberg. "Ever since our members started going to Prentis, it's been very special. Finding people to lead the services is never a problem. We look forward to going every other week. Our members get a lot of satis- faction from what they are doing, and get a special feeling of self- appreciation." Perhaps the most important re- sult of the project is the lesson it helps to teach. According to Young Israel members, the Sabbath program as- sures that homes for the aged are not places to die, but places to live and enjoy the "twilight of life."