Sinai Rehab Center
To Open In 1994
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
A
merican Lady has con-
verted. The former fit-
ness club on Lincoln
and Greenfield roads
has become Sinai Hospital's
third rehabilitation center,
expected to open some time
in early 1994.
Located in the Crown
Pointe building, the renovat-
ed 9,000-square foot facility
will serve patients with mus-
culo-skeletal maladies and
other orthopedic problems.
Sinai is billing the location
as "easily accessible" to many
Sinai patients who live in the
Oak Park/Royal Oak Town-
ship area.
Medical staff will include
one occupational therapist,
two physical therapists, one
athletic trainer and physical
therapy aides. Equipment
will run the gamut from stair
climbers and cybex machines
to a swimming pool, consid-
ered the facility's "marketing
niche."
The new facility is
expected to
accommodate
about 4,000
patient visits
during its first
year of operation.
Dr. William Restum, as-
sistant vice president for the
hospital's clinical program,
said there are many rehab fa-
cilities nearby, but Sinai will
out-compete by promoting its
pool and aquatherapy treat-
ments, as well as the hospi-
tal's 40 years of experience in
occupational and physical
therapy, he said.
Sinai Hospital runs two
other rehabilitation clinics —
one in the Blumberg Build-
ing on its main campus in
northwest Detroit, the other
CORRECTION
An Oct. 15 article incor-
rectly stated the Michigan
Constitution will be rewrit-
ten in 1994. A public vote
must be taken in order to
have a Constitutional Con-
vention in 1994.
in West Bloomfield. Both fa-
cilities have reached capaci-
ty and many patients have
been referred elsewhere.
"I think that the industry
is a growth industry. People
are living longer and sus-
taining more orthopedic
injuries. We have a prolifer-
ation in our young adults to-
ward a more physically active
life. Unfortunately, one of the
by-products of that kind of
life is physical injury," Dr.
Restum said.
The new facility is expect-
ed to accommodate about
4,000 patient visits during its
first year of operation. Doc-
tors and administrators say
the new leased site will be
cost effective for two reasons.
First, it is expected to
make a profit within the first
12 months of operation. Sec-
ond, administrators hope the
off-site "satellite" clinic will
draw more patients into the
Sinai Hospital system.
Said Dr. Joseph Honet,
chairman of Sinai's depart-
ment of physical medicine
and rehabilitation, "People
like to go to therapy that is
accessible to them." ❑
Ezras Torah
Parlor Meeting
Rabbi Jay Goldberg, brother of
Young Israel of Southfield Rab-
bi Elimelich Goldberg, will be
speaking on behalf of Ezras
Torah, one of the most recog-
nized charities both here and
in Israel.
The discussion will take
place 8 p.m. Tuesday, Octo-
ber 26, at the home of Dr.
and Mrs. Eric Peterson of
Southfield. Rabbi Goldberg
will be speaking in tribute to
Ezra Torah's recently de-
ceased president, Rabbi
Dovid Lifshitz.
Rabbi Lifshitz was the se-
nior rosh yeshiva of Yeshiv-
as Rabbeinu Yitzchak
Elchanan, where he taught
for more than 45 years. He
was an active leader in ma-
jor Orthodox Jewish organi-
zations such as the Vaad
Hatzalah, Agudas HaRab-
bonim, Torah U'Meshorah
and Chinuch Atzmai. He is
remembered by many for his
interest and involvement in
the personal and spiritual
lives of his students. ❑
The pool is undergoing renovation.
Audience At Temple Israel
Praises Gov. Cuomo's Speech
LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
N
ew York Gov. Mario
Cuomo dazzled the au-
dience as he spoke on
health care, the econo-
my, Israel, the North Ameri-
can Free Trade Agreement
and a host of other current
hot topics during an appear-
ance Sunday at Temple Is-
rael.
"It was vintage Cuomo,"
said Dana Coventry, one of
approximately 900 people
who attended the fund-raiser
to benefit Temple Israel's
community and educational
programs.
Many in attendance echoed
Ms. Coventry's praise for Gov.
Cuomo and said they enjoyed
his thought-provoking speech.
"I'm definitely a Mario Cuo-
mo fan," Ms. Coventry said.
"I agree with a lot of his pol-
icy and the way he articulates
his position."
Her husband, Bruce Coven-
try, said he likes Gov. Cuomo
for his ability to simplify com-
plex political issues, such as
health care reform and NAF-
TA.
Steve Rivkin and Morton
Freedman were among the
sponsors of the event who had
an opportunity to meet with
Gov. Cuomo before his
speech. Both praised him for
his intelligence, compassion
and sense of humor.
"He's a wonderful person,"
said Mr. Freedman. "He's
presidential material. Our
country needs someone like
him." ,
During a question-and-an-
swer session after his speech,
Gov. Cuomo was asked why
he did not run for president NAFTA as number 11 —
and if he would consider mak- that's for us to decide."
ing a bid during the next elec-
During the speech, Gov.
tion. But the governor only Cuomo expressed his support
for Israel and the need to end
the Arab boycott.
"We want peace," he said.
"Israel wants peace. Yet some
are afraid of it and want it
stopped. There can't be peace
at any price. You must get the
Arabs to recognize Israel's
right to exist.
"You have to get rid of the
Arab boycott. If you don't let
all the great powers do busi-
ness with Israel, then Israel
is not going to make it."
Eric Schiffer spent his Sun-
day afternoon at Temple Is-
Mario Cuomo
rael because he wanted to
left the crowd guessing about hear the New York governor's
his future plans.
views on the nation's political
"He speaks from the heart,"
said Linda Friedlaender, who
said she has always been a
supporter of Gov. Cuomo's
ideas. "He's a concerned hu-
man who I think has the abil-
— Dana Coventry
ity to inspire everyone. I
thought he did especially well
on everything he spoke about, topics. Mr. Schiffer said he
especially the way he ex- was glad Gov. Cuomo touched
plained his support for NAF- on a lot of issues and he was
TA."
satisfied with what he heard.
NAFTA, if signed, would
After his speech, Gov. Cuo-
gradually eliminate all tariffs mo spent a few minutes min-
and other trade barriers be- gling with the crowd and
tween Mexico, the United signing copies of his book
States and Canada.
More Than Words.
"The U.S. can't make it on
Mel Raznick couldn't resist
its own," Gov. Cuomo said. the temptation to have his
"It's a good idea but it's going book signed and is planning
to cost us some jobs. The on sending it to his son in law
question we must ask our- school. Mr. Raznick said he
selves is if this is the time to was delighted to hear Gov.
lose those jobs. There was not Cuomo express his support
a tablet delivered to us with for Israel. 111
"It was vintage
Cuomo."