emors

Volunteer
entertainers —
onstage and in
the audience —
are features of
the JPM JCC's
Wednesday
afternoon
socials.

SUZAIRIE CHESSLER

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

GLENN TRIEST PHOTOGRAPHY

C/3

C/3

LU

f--
CD
CC

w

C:=1

LU

go

mprovisation meets tradi-
tion every Wednesday af-
ternoon at the Jimmy
Prentis Morris Jewish
Community Center in Oak
Park.
That's when a group of
between 50 and 100 seniors
meet to enjoy spontaneous
entertainment offered at
the Wednesday Afternoon
Socials, which have been
held for at least 15 years.
While many members of
the audience sit back and
listen to the singers and
musicians who steadfastly
volunteer their talents and
time, others feel very corn-

fortable about joining the
singing, getting up to dance
or serving a light, sweet
snack to their friends.
"Attendance is very de-
pendent on the weath-
er," said Leslie Bash,
managing director of the
JCC facility. "When the
day is nice, the room is
filled."
Some of the guests
are able to walk from
nearby homes. Others
are brought by family
members. Many are
picked up by a bus that
stops at major apartment
buildings in the area.

The idea for the program
came from Bernard and Fay
Luchtan, who enjoy music
and arranged for the first
group of entertainers years

ago.
Aharon and Ann Gumer

have been attending the
socials for five years. "We
love this," said Mr. Gumer,
who chooses to remain at his
table and watch the others.
"The entertainment is
first class, and we just
would not miss it."
Esther Fishman, who
continues to work at the
JPM at age 82, oversees
the weekly get-togeth-
ers. "This is totally un-
planned," Ms. Fishman
said. "We're not always
sure which entertainers
will be here, and we
don't ask what they will be
doing. It's all up to them."