I

Older residents
make connection to
Congregation Beth
Shalom through
special programs.

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

The seniors enjoyed
visiting the sukkah.

Invitation

first saw a sukkah when she was 12years old, about
70 years ago. Back then, she and her family would walk
to her grandfather's house on Division Street in Detroit
and share a meal under the stars.
Molly remembered when her cousin in Montreal would
build a sukkah every year, and every year her family would
visit.
"It was beautiful, all glimmering and pretty," she said,
recalling the decorations and the atmosphere. "I really en-
joyed it."
She and about 19 other elderly women swapped child-
hood sukkah memories at a Sukkot luncheon Tuesday
sponsored by the sisterhood of Congregation Beth Shalom.
In an ongoing effort to reach more of the elderly commu-
nity, the sisterhood invited the residents of North Park
Place apartments to the meal.
The congregation also sponsors a monthly social group
for the residents of Lincoln Towers.

Rabbi David Nelson is hoping the increased contact will
bring elderly residents back to the congregation on a reg-
ular basis.
"We are in the neighborhood and we feel that we should
serve them," he said. "As a congregation, we should have -4-
programs for all ages.
CT)
"We try to do these things to link the generations. Every- —
_
one benefits, really," he said.
cz,
At the same time, Phyllis Schwartz, director of senior c")
services for Jewish Family Service, is hoping the contact w
ec
with the congregation will spawn more community in- 03
terest in programs to house the elderly and more inclu- ,,,
sion of the residents in regular celebrations. 1-
"They had a great time. This is important contact for it
cf)
these women," she said.
She hopes other congregations will follow Congrega-
tion Beth Shalom to increase the elderly residents' con- 1
tact with the Jewish community. ❑

