Rabbis Protest Borman Hall Option

While the future of Borman has not been determined, options concern many.

JENNIFER FINER JEWISH NEWS INTERN

I

he Council of Orthodox
Rabbis is protesting the
possibility of relocating
Borman Hall residents
because, they said, such a move
may violate Halachah.
"We are looking for some as-
surance from Federation that
these people will not be moved
or some sort of assurance that
their lives will not be placed in
jeopardy by the move," said
Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg of
the Council of Orthodox Rabbis.
Halachah, Jewish law, de-
mands the primacy of life over
financial considerations, ac-
cording to Rabbi Goldberg, who
said a letter was sent to the
Jewish Federation of Metro-
politan Detroit addressing this
matter.
The Council of Orthodox
Rabbis, the Va'ad, also is con-
cerned about transit trauma--
taking older persons from an
environment they are used to
and moving them to a signifi-
cantly different location, Rabbi
Goldberg said.
Mark Schlussel, who chairs
the Federation Elder Care Op-
tions Committee, said he hasn't
seen the Va'ad's letter.
"Rabbis play a special role in
Jewish life and part of that re-
sponsibility is to remind us of
our religious obligations. The
fact that they have done so will
only further sensitize us to their
concerns," Mr. Schlussel said.
While the Elder Care Op-
tions Committee and the Jew-
ish Home for Aged board has

not yet arrived at a decision
about the future of the Home's
residents, the Council's con-
cerns stem from options pro-

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"Moving them
could violate
Halachah."

— Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg

the Family Forum, comprised
of relatives of Borman Hall res-
idents, said the petitions are a
way of making a statement .

about the concerns of the com-
munity.
"We have heard a lot of
rumors and we don't know
what's fact or not. We hope Fed-
eration will make sure there is
a place for the frail elderly in
this community and that the
Jewish community will support
such a place," said Ms. Appel,
who has a mother in the Home.
'We'd like that place to be Bor-
man Hall. If that's not practical
we accept it, but we want a
place."

RUTH UTTMANN STAFF WRITER

Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg

posed by board members of the
Jewish Federation of Metro-
politan Detroit, Jewish Home
for Aged and United Jewish
Foundation.
Options for the Home include
relocating residents to facilities
with Jewish programming or
with plans to develop Jewish
programming with the help of
Federation; selling Borman
Hall to an owner who would

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

ing.
As one of the creative forces
behind the 1970s television
show "Hot Fudge," Mr. Coden
is used to it.
In January, Mr. Coden will
join musician Josh White Jr. in
efforts to entertain all genera-
tions. At 2 p.m. Jan. 23, the
Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield will hold its
first holiday concert for parents,
grandparents and children. The
Jewish National Fund, Home
Health Exchange and The Jew-

some type of Jewish home be
maintained.
Midge Appel, co-chairman of

Jews Serve Christmas Dinner
To 2,067 Hungry Detroiters

Holiday Concert
Celebrates Families

n the other end of the
phone line at Ron Co-
den's Huntington Woods
home, children are play-

maintain it with current resi-
dents and Jewish program-
ming; or closing the Home and
relocating its residents.
"We are going to do every-
thing possible to preserve ser-
vices and facilities for our aging
population," Mr. Schlussel said.
"Our concern to provide quality
services to the aged has not at
all diminished. We are-just ex-
ploring the best methods- and
quality of service to find: the best
option."
In addition to the Wad's con-
cerns, at least one group is cir-
culating petitions asking that

ish News are cosponsoring the
event.
Mr. Coden and Mr. White
have been friends for more than
25 years, occasionally perform-
ing folk and blues together and
providing the music for the PBS
special "My Favorite Toy."
The Adult Services Depart-
ment of the JCCenter has been
aiming at intergenerational
programming once every two
months.
Programming that brings to-
gether grandparents and
grandchildren "has been a miss-
ing link in family program-

CONCERT page 16

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n the night before Christ-
Members of Hillel of Metro
mas Eve, Leonard Krugel Detroit lent a hand, serving
of Congregation Shaarey meals to the hungry living
Zedek hovered over a downtown. The Birmingham
map of Detroit.
Temple's singles group, and in-
Burning
the midnight
oil, Mr. Kru-
gel nailed
down logis-
tics for the
delivery of
more than
1,500 Christ-
mas meals to
530 families
living in De-
troit.
Mr. Kru-
gel's efforts
— and those
of other
Shaarey
Zedek con-
gregants —
paid off. On
Dec. 24, Sam Stulberg, Steve Korn, Yury Kupershtok help prepare food.
more than
100 volunteers played Santa dividuals like Brian Price and
Claus by bringing holiday din- his sister, Adrienne, also volun-
ners to families living between teered at city soup kitchens.
Woodward Avenue, Telegraph
Road, Eight Mile Road and
Schoolcraft.
It was all part of an effort to
reach out to the hungry, as well
as improve inter-ethnic, city-
suburban relations. While
— Leonard Krugel
Shaarey Zedek members
worked in conjunction with the
Salvation Army to prepare and
"I feel it's my responsibility to
deliver meals, other Jewish or- reach out," said Mr. Price, 28.
ganizations also pitched in to
Rachel Beider accompanied
help make Christmas merrier her parents to Detroit to deliv-
for many Detroiters.
er meals prepared by Shaarey

"The need far
outstrips the
resources."

Zedek. Braving the cold morn-
ing air, she handed a brown bag
stuffed with hot food to an 18-
year-old man and wished him,
"Merry Christmas."
Mem-
bers of the
Shaarey
Zedek
Men's Club,
which for
two years
has spon-
sored the
event,
"Shine a
Light into
Darkness,"
with the
Salvation
Army, say
the need for
holiday
meals in-
creases an-
nually.
Last
Christmas
Eve, volunteers delivered half
as many meals. This year, in ad-
dition to door-to-door deliveries,
volunteers gave 500 meals to the
Salvation Army's "Bed and
Bread" program for the hungry.
"The need far outstrips the
resources," Mr. Krugel said.
"Frankly, there just isn't
enough."
Col. William Speck of the Sal-
vation Army said he was im-
pressed by the cooperation
between people of different
faiths and backgrounds. "This
event shows that God and His
love are still alive."

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