PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Marcy Feldman, President Resettlement Service The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! Contrary to popular belief, we are still working on the resettlement of Jews from the former Soviet Union. In the last four years, we have welcomed over 2,700 people to our local community. In the last 12 months, 520 newcomers arrived! People are always surprised when I mention these figures. They think the influx has stopped. Not so! It may not be as "fashionable" to aid in the resettlement of Jews as it is to help the homeless, but truly these are both vital needs. We expect hundreds more in the coming year. I can report all the successes . . . the people who found employment, the children who receive a Jewish education and camping experience, the people who volunteer for others and contribute to the Allied Jewish Campaign. But that is not telling the whole story. On the international scene, a delegation from HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) recently visited the former Soviet Union. They report that anti-Semitism is very much alive. In Moscow, the delegation saw anti-Semitic literature in 15 anti- Semitic, ultra-right wing publications on various newsstands. Locally, what has happened to some of our arrivals of years past? People who are between the ages of 55-64 who have diffi- culty learning the language as a result of their age, are no longer able to receive General Assistance. The General Assistance program has been eliminated in Michigan. Our Jewish community dollars cannot go to aid in someone's existence for the rest of their lives. Will these people become home- less also? There are daily crises with indi- viduals who have grave health, emotional and family problems. We have a small, ded- icated professional staff to handle day-to- day work and emergencies. Can you help us? Yes! Thanks for asking! We are desperate for volunteers to help practice English, tutor children with school work, drive to the doctor, be a friend. Are you a physician (or is your daughter or son?) We have emergency cases where our clients do not have medical insurance. It is not fair always to ask the same doctors who are cur- rently donating their time, to do so in excess. If you have no time . . . maybe you have household items in good condition that you can donate to the people arriving next week! Our Resettlement Service Warehouse (locat- ed at Northland Center in Southfield) is open Wednesdays (noon - 2:00 pm) and is always in need of quality donations. We need you in the picture of this page of Jewish history! It may not be as fashionable as the opera or ballet, but it is our Jewish history. Please join us in this most impor- tant chapter. To volunteer, please call Elina Zilberberg, Coordinator, Volunteer Services Department, at 559-1500. To donate household items, please call Susan UlanofT, Donations Liaison at 559-4566. ANNUAL VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION EVENING n October 11, 1993 Jewish Family Service and Resettlement Service hosted their joint annual volunteer recognition evening. This year it was held at the beautiful new Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield. Grocery Shoppers Nursing Home Visiting Sinai Hospital Liaison Librarian Attorneys Jewish Connections Volunteer Advisory Committee Carol Fogel, chairperson of the Volunteer Services Steering Committee, and moderator for the evening, along with Janice Shatzman, JFS President and Marcy Feldman, RS President, remarked on the inestimable value of our many enthusiastic volunteers. Volunteers were honored for their par- ticipation in the following programs: Entertainment was provided by the stu- dents of the Community Jewish High School. A heart- warming performance of "Keshet, the Token of the Covenant" was presented. The play is a compilation of song, personal remem- brances, jokes and stories relating to the Jewish experience. The play was created and directed by Corrine Stavish, with music by Scott Stern. Every one of the nearly 100 volunteers who attended the evening was delighted with the presentation. Project Opportunity Translators Conversational English Tutors Resettlement Warehouse Doctors and Dentists Office Assistants Transportation Department Tutors Group Apartment for the Elderly Program Meals on Wheels Coordinators Friendly Visitors Special Friends Special thanks go to the Recognition Evening Committee: Gert Edgar, Nancy Garber, Sandy Hyman, Molly Kaplansky, Barbara Nusbaum, Adeline Salinger, Lois Shiffman, Ellie Slovis, Linda Zaretzki, Elina Zilberberg, and to Peter Levitin who provided the piano accompaniment. Volunteers enjoy Recognition Evening. Left to right: Beatrice Epel, Gertrude Edgar, Molly Kaplansky SUPPORT OFFERED FOR AIDS FAMILIES Jewish Family Service is stepping for- ward to offer assistance to Jewish families of persons with AIDS and the HIV virus. The support group is a response to a num- ber of requests to both JFS and the Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition (MJAC). "At last report, the two local Jewish AROUND THE GAER,. With the beautiful weather of this past sum- mer, the residents of the JFS Group Apart- ment for the Elderly Program (GAEP) enjoyed wonderful outings. The residents (average age of 83 years) participated in a picnic and boat ride, a barbecue at Walnut Lake hosted by Sarah Schuster; a tour of the Detroit Zoo, dining out at various restaurants, a fabulous show at the Birmingham Theatre, a lunch prepared and hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Prentis and Hope Steinberg - - - the list goes on! funeral homes had buried over 100 persons with AIDS. I'm sure the numbers are even higher," said Elissa Driker-Ohren, JFS Clinical Social Worker who co-leads the group with Sandra Hyman, Director, Resettlement Service. Issues such as death, dying, grieving and the anticipation of grief are discussed. For information about the Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition, please call 356-2123. For information about the JFS support group, please call Elissa Driker-Ohren at 559-1500. GAEP residents are grateful for the many donations to the JFS Good Life Tribute Fund. This Tribute Fund is used to arrange these wonderful activities. You can make a donation in memory of a loved one, or in honor of a happy occasion or a special person. We are presently looking for donations of living room and dining room furniture. Please contact Jan Bayer, GAEP Program Manager or Kelly Kumpula, GAEP Administrative Assistant at 559-1500 when considering a furniture donation. GAEP residents enjoy the Detroit Zoo Left to right: George Maltz, Edna Silk, Jean Erdos PILOT GROUP EXPERIENCE FOR PARKINSON PATIENTS AND CAREPARMERS Marilyn Hertzberg, JFS Clinical Social Worker, at the sugges- tion of Dr. Peter Lewitt of Sinai Hospital and David Nesbitt, Director of the Michigan Parkinson's Foundation (MPF) pre- sented a plan for a pilot project involving patients with Parkinson's disease and their carepartners. The project involved providing a group experience for the patients and carepartners for seven weeks at Jewish Family Service. MPF was interested in measuring the differences between participation in a support group and a group which is more focused upon feelings associated with experiencing a pro- gressive illness. The group sizes were limited and included representation from throughout the tri-county area. Marilyn Hertzberg and Gloria Craig from MPF met with the patients. Lorraine Lerner, JFS Clinical Social Worker, Margaret Weiner, JFS Associate Executive Director, and David Nesbitt met with the carepart- ners. "I think it is very exciting that people (in other professions) are recognizing the importance of treating the emotions as well as the physical problems that accompany Parkinson's disease, and also that (they) see JFS as an agency that has the expertise and the facility to provide this much needed services to those in need," Mrs. Hertzberg concluded. At the conclusion of these meetings, the patients spoke of "feeling connected," and "less isolated." One group member commented that he felt physically better during the weeks that the group met. The carepartners were equally positive, particu- larly because of the opportunity to have their feelings addressed.