Hospice Questions
Addressed At Temple
LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
I
wenty-nine years ago,
Hal Pazner was diag-
nosed with cancer —
melanoma. In 1975, he
was told he had six months to
live. By 1993 he was taken off
of all medication. Nothing left
to do, doctors said.
Mr. Pazner retired in July
at the age of 65 and engrossed
himself in volunteer work and
committees. He trained to be-
come a Hospice of Southeast-
ern Michigan volunteer, but
has not gone to work. His doc-
tors have recently advised
against it.
"It's ironic. I trained as a
volunteer, but I may soon en-
ter the program as a patient,"
Mr. Pazner said.
Mr. Pazner's belief in Hos-
pice remains strong.
He will discuss his own bat-
tles and his affinity for the or-
ganization 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at
Temple Israel.
Joining Mr. Pazner will be
Rabbi E.B. (Bunny) Freedman
of Jewish Hospice Services,
David Techner of the Ira
Kaufman Chapel and
Jonathan Finn, medical di-
rector of Hospice. Temple Is-
rael's Rabbi M. Robert Syme
will moderate.
The program, free and open
to the community, will focus
on giving the community more
information about Hospice and
Jewish Hospice, in utilizing its
services and volunteer oppor-
tunities. The concept came
from all directions.
Mr. Pazner was a member
of Temple Israel's Caring
Community Committee, an
umbrella organization to help
temple members with specific
needs during times of trouble.
He suggested the idea to the
committee.
And Rabbi Syme recalled
visiting an ill congregant. He
became engrossed in a con-
Humor And Wit
Spice Up Tradition
JENNIFER FINER JEWISH NEWS INTERN
versation with the Hospice vol-
unteer assisting at the home.
"He told me Hospice saved
his life. He was retired and
wondered what to do and
somehow blundered into Hos-
pice. He said it brought new
meaning to his life," Rabbi
Syme said.
Like Hospice, Jewish
Hospice assists individuals
with terminal illnesses while
they remain at
home. Volun-
teers are linked
with a person
and his or her
family, helping
out for usually
one to three
hours each week
for up to a year.
A 12-hour train-
ing program is
required.
Jewish Hos-
pice's scope is ex-
panded by its
link to Jewish Family Service
and other Jewish agencies. In
addition, volunteers are
trained to be familiar with
Jewish customs in death, dy-
ing, household practices,
kosher laws, Shabbat and hol-
idays. They are also trained to
understand the
diversity of Judaism —
from Orthodox to secular,
Holocaust survivors to new
Americans.
Volunteers make a
one-to-three-hour
time commitment
each week.
"We're breaking down bar-
riers to better serve," Rabbi
Freedman said.
In addition, Rabbi Freed-
man acts as a liaison to other
rabbis in the community, re-
establishing and maintaining
contact between spiritual lead-
ers and congregants.
"A program like this, it
really strengthens our belief
that the synagogue is more
than a house of prayer. It's
also a house of assembly,
where we reach out. This is an
opportunity to reach out so
those who need help and want
to help can discover that
people really do care," Rabbi
Syme said. ❑
trying to make it
fun because I
think everyone
should crack a
smile when
they're doing Jew-
ish things."
Dr. Lewis uses
a little satire, wit
and sarcasm to
encourage people
to participate in
Jewish prayers
and festivals. For
example, the first
verse in his Eng-
lish translation of
the Passover song
"Dayenu" is sung
to the same tune
but reads: "Had he
saved us, saved
us, saved us,
saved us from the
nasty `Gyptians
and not given
them conniptions,
Dayenu."
"When you
have guests with
different levels of Hebrew lit-
eracy, they can join in with the
Hebrew, English, Hebrew
transliteration or they can sing
along in Singlish — a rhyming
English translation that fits
the tune of the song," he said.
Both books also have edi-
tor's notes for all songs and
prayers.
Dr. Lewis said he got the
idea to publish his Haggadah
when Passover guests did not
feel comfortable reading He-
brew during a seder. Origi-
nally, he made transliterated
Hebrew songs sheets to en-
courage his guests to partici-
pate and the Haggadah
evolved from this concept.
`The appeal is to people who
are probably traditional and
are going to have guests who
aren't necessarily traditional
or those who want to become
more comfortable with tradi-
tion," said Dr. Lewis, who has
sold 400 copies of his books.
Sharona Shapiro bought
three copies of Dr. Lewis' Hag-
.
Joe Lewis: A twist on tradition.
D
r. Joe Lewis is offering
a little friendly advice to
anyone who reads his
one-page newsletter,
"The Joeish News."
"Chanukah tip: Keep the
candles away from the cur-
tains," he writes. His newslet-
ter offers both slap stick
humor and information about
his publications.
Dr. Lewis, of Oak Park, re-
cently started the Joeish Pub-
lication Society where he
publishes "The Joeish News,"
"The-Join-in Participate Sing-
Along Hagadah" and "The
Join-in Participate Sing-Along
Grace After Meals and Song-
book" to make prayers more
understandable and accessi-
ble. Both books are sold in lo-
cal Jewish bookstores.
"I use a lot of humor," said
Dr. Lewis, who received his
doctorate degree in English
from Temple University.
"Sometimes people find tradi-
tion intimidating because it's
presented in serious terms. Pm
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gadah to use as a supplement
for her seders.
"The family divides up the
seder among our guests," she
said. "There are different sec-
tions for people to participate
in. Our haggadahs are conser-
vative but we enjoy using Joe's
too. We find his to be helpful
in engaging members of our
seders."
In addition to the Hag-
gadah, songbook and "The
Joeish News," Dr. Lewis also
published "How to Present a
Purim Play," a book contain-
ing three plays originally per-
formed at Congregation Beth
Shalom which offer a fresh
look at the themes of Purim.
Dr. Lewis also makes cus-
tom-made simchah books for
weddings, bar and bat mitz-
vahs and other occasions. The
simchah book includes grace
after meals and songs and
prayers recited on festive oc-
casions.
"He helped my husband and
me with our baby naming,"
said Ms. Shapiro, who in ad-
dition to her Haggadot also or-
dered a custom-made simchah
book.
"I think everyone
should crack a
smile when they're
doing Jewish
things."
Joe Lewis
"The booklet he made for us
is very special because he per-
sonalized it. He found verses
from talmudic literature that
enhanced our home ceremo-
ny."
Dr. Lewis, who works as a
communications director for
an insurance company, said
his next project is a prayer
book for Saturday morning
services and "Jewrassic Park,"
the next Beth Shalom Purim
musical. ❑
Correction
A Nov. 26 article about Adat
Shalom Synagogue's Torah
for Tots program incorrectly
listed the date of the next
session. Cantor Howard
Glantz will conduct Torah for
Tots on Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m.