r limit 1 HE EXECUTIVE VIRECTOR
Alan D. Goodman, Executive Director
Jewish Family Service and Resettlement
Service
As we emerge
from the coldest weath-
er to hit our community
for the past century, we
should take a few min-
utes to think about our
community priorities
and how they impact on
human needs. "Jewish continuity" is the
current priority, discussed in the halls of
federations across the country this year. I
believe that this is an important issue wor-
thy of community support. I do not
believe that these two words translate
directly into exclusive support for Jewish
education, an assumption which I believe
many are making.
People seek out their Jewish roots for
many reasons and at many different times
in their lives. This occurs at times of joy
and sorrow, when we celebrate life cycle
events and when we experience loss, pain
and suffering. We have all heard of those
who have distanced themselves from all
things Jewish, but when confronted with
their own death, seek desperately to
reestablish a relationship with G-d and
their religious and cultural roots. It is at
times like these that people turn to us.
Both Jewish Family Service and
Resettlement Service present people with
an opportunity to become connected once
again to their heritage. We represent the
Jewish community to our clients, and our
staff personify the doing of acts of loving
kindness as prescribed by Jewish law. It
is through us, that many of those in the
Jewish community who have not chosen
to give themselves or their children the
opportunity to have a Jewish education,
maintain their link with their Jewishness
and then very often seek ways in which to
reaffirm this link. This can take the form
of synagogue affiliation, contributing to
the community annual campaign and giv-
ing of themselves through volunteering.
I believe that it is important that we do
not become single dimensional in our
thinking and blindly follow the "cause of
the day." It is too easy to forget about the
social issues which have been around for
the past century or more, and will always
be with us. Poverty, hunger, homeless-
ness, illness and despair are only a few of
the concerns which our staff address on a
daily basis for Jews in our midst. What
happens to the homeless single mother
when the temperature is -20 degrees and
the shelters are full? Can we still feel
compassion for an individual with mental
illness who refuses medication and treat-
ment, and is evicted from his room in a
run down rooming house in Detroit?
What about the former refugee who, at 59
years, is suffering from a serious illness
and is without health coverage or any
means of support?
As a community, we have an obligation
to remember the importance of all of our
communal institutions to the continuity of
Jewish life. We must uphold in word and
deed the important principles of our
Jewish heritage, particularly as they relate
to those less fortunate than ourselves. We
have the responsibility of ensuring that the
balance is maintained between the "need
of the day" and the ongoing basic needs in
our community.
SPOTLIGHT UN
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Sometimes it is very frustrating to be
an employee at JFS/RS. We hear, on a
daily basis, about serious community
needs that we cannot always address.
One of our biggest frustrations occurs
around the need to have translators who
can help our newest arrivals when they go
to a physician's office. Imagine the prob-
lems of both the physician and the patient
when there is information to be shared
and a serious language barrier exists.
Just such a case occured on a recently,
bitterly cold Friday morning. An elderly
client had an appointment with Dr.
Morton, one of the community's many
dentists who have generously given of
their time. The client needed emergency
treatment. The children of this client are
recent arrivals themselves with little
English skills. Many of our volunteers are
away for the winter or are otherwise occu-
pied on Fridays. In desperation, the
Volunteer Services Department contacted
Mrs. Khaya Akkerman and pleaded with
her, reminding her that she was the
youngest volunteer, at 70 plus, who could
perform this service. Mrs. Akkerman gra-
ciously went to the dentist with the client.
We want to publicly thank Mrs.
Akkerman, and acknowledge the valuable
service she has provided, and continues to
provide, to our community. Often our
volunteers spend countless hours, with lit-
tle recognition. The agency is fortunate to
have committed volunteers, such as Mrs.
Akkerman and Dr. Morton!
For information about volunteer oppor-
tunities, please contact the Volunteer
Services Department at 559-4046.
JFS THANKS ITS FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY
Jewish Family Service recently com-
pleted its annual Friends of the Family
Membership Drive. This effort raises
needed funds which support agency pro-
grams serving Jewish children, older
adults and families.
With sincere thanks, we would like to
acknowledge the following individuals for
their generosity as 1993/94 Friends of the
Family:
FRIENDS
Andrew Barbas
Sol and Rhoda Benaderet
Susan and Robert Citrin
Warren Coville
Dale and Bruce Frankel
Harold and Lynda Friedman
Furniture Club of Detroit Foundation
Ed and Francine Gold
Nancy and Stephen Grand
Barbara Grant
Amy and Mark Haimann
David Handleman
Doreen Hertnelin
Michael Horowitz
John E. Jacobs
Nancy Jacobson
Michelle Kleiman
Agnes Klein
Caren Landau Levine
Terran Leemis
M.J. Maisels
John Marx
Anita and Bob Naftaly
Irving Nusbaum
Helene Phillips and Paul Zerkel
Marta Rosenthal
Mark Share
Janice Shatzman
Max Shaye
Helen Shevin
Lew and Cheryl Silver
Gilbert Silverman
Gary Snyder
Temple Israel
Brent and Nancy Triest
Stewart Weiner
Betsy and Mike Winkelman
Helaine Zack
SPONSORS
Richard Blumenstein
Lisa and Gerald Brody
Julie and Peter Cummings
Carol and Ronald Fogel
Stephen Greenfield
Edythe Jackier-Mulivor
Delphine Landau
Donald and Gail Lansky
Mrs. Irving Levitt
Joel Lutz
Rachel and Harry Maisel
Sophie Pearlstein
Meryl and Terry Podolsky
Arlene Rhodes
Mike and Ann Rosenthal
Jessie Stern
Rosalie and Sidney Young
PATRONS
Dr. Eli and Joanna Berger
Anaruth and Henri Bernard
Dee and Seymour Brode
Susan and Alan Goodman
Diane Hauser
Dr. Bruce Hulscher
A. Freda Milstein
Dr. and Mrs. Morris Stern
Robert and Elaine Robins
Rita Rochlen
Morris and Rosalyn Rubin
Richard Rubinstein
Dr. and Mrs. Morris Stern
Deborah Tyner and Richard Herman
DOUBLE CHAI
Alice Bernstein
Lisa and Gerald Eizen
Peggy and Dennis Frank
Phillip Friedman
Pola and Howard Friedman
Illana and Dan Greenberg
Elsie Harold
Harold Israel
Dr. Irvin and Barbara Kappy
Herbert Kaufman
Ann Mandelbaum-Mann
Adele and Ben Rosen
Fred and Harriet Rosen
Alvin and Molly Sallen
Judy and Norval Slobin
Joel and Florence Steinberg
Lucille Weisberg
CHAI
The Berry Foundation
Albert M. Colman
Regina Feuer
Paul Inowlocki
Milton and Evelyn Kogan
Joseph and Debra Silver
Arthur and Gladys Sweet
Dr and Mrs. Warren Tessler
Doris Werner
RETIRED NURSE
HAS FOUND
HER PLACE
Retired nurse Hanna Wheeler has been
a resident of the Group Apartments for the
Elderly Program for the past three years.
Following the death of her husband, Mrs.
Wheeler decided to avail herself of the
many services the program has to offer:
cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping,
socialization and companionship. She
doesn't mind admitting that, at age 87, she
is ready to relinquish some of these tasks.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were happily
married for 45 years. They made their
home in Standish, Michigan, where they
owned a furniture business. Mrs.
Wheeler explains that she has adjusted to
the changes brought about by her beloved
husband's illness and death and that she is
comfortable with her life today.
She states that for this stage in her life,
the GAEP is her place. She especially
appreciates the opportunity to socialize
with others, whether on a leisurely outing
to Kensington Park, an entertaining after-
noon at the theater, or a lively game of
BINGO. This delightful lady is an avid
reader with a sharp mind and a charming
wit. She regularly attends the current
events discussions and book reviews.
Mrs. Wheeler is an active participant and
enthusiastic supporter of the GAEP.
Please call Jan Bayer, GAEP Program
Manager or Kelly Kumpula, Program
Assistant, at Jewish Family Service (559-
1500) to discuss the GAEP as a creative
living option.
GENEROUS
THANKSGIVING Ali D
CHANUKAH
DONATIONS CAME
FROM MANY
Thanksgiving and Chanukah of 1993 saw
an outpouring of donations from many
caring people and institutions. Jewish
Family Service and Resettlement Service
would like to thank the following individ-
uals, synagogues, and community organi-
zations for their generosity and thought-
fulness:
Anita Bogorad and family
Bruce Fidler and family
Lois and Nat Fishman
Yana Mukh
Sheldon and Marcie Weinstein
Elizabeth Zerwekh and family
Congregation Shir Tikvah
Beth Abraham Hillel Moses PTO
B'nai B'rith—Southfield
EDS, Inc.