BETH JACOB STUDENTS SHARE
HEART- -HEART WITH SENIORS
by Shirley Jarcaig
"I don't have the words to describe how wonderful
the girls are." These are the sentiments of one of the
participants of the new Jewish Family Service (JFS)
Inter-Generational Friendly Visiting program. This
cooperative pilot project between JFS and the Sally Allen
Alexander Beth Jacob School for Girls teams students
with individual seniors citizens, whom they visit on a
weekly basis. All of the senior citizens in the program
receive homecare services from IFS and are homebound
due to health programs or disabilities.
Chessed, or acts of loving kindness, is a cornerstone
value in Jewish living, and is a mitzvah or deed incumbent
upon every Jew through which the worth of each individ-
ual is recognized.
Rabbi Nathaniel Lauer, Educational Director for the
school, emphasizes that chessed, strong values, and a
commitment to community are an important part of the
Beth Jacob school curriculum.
A number of the seniors involved in the program are
former community volunteers who are getting back a
little of what they once gave. Anna Cooper, 94, was a
volunteer for many years as an interpreter for new Russian
immigrants receiving resettlement services. She now
enjoys and welcomes the company of Rivki Bakst and
Sara Meta Baum.
Borenstein and Malky Shapiro, Chaya Loketch and Shifra
Zeiter, Rochel Goldberg and Dena Weiss, Sara Belen and
Simcha Ishakis, Naomi Greenfield and Shana Weisberg,
Esty Lauer and Esther Weingarden, and Esti Wrotslovsky,
Rachel Last and Shira Feigelman.
JFS' staff involved in the development and implemen-
tation of the Inter-Generational Friendly Visiting Program
are Carolyn Davidson, Manager, Volunteer Services, and
Shirley Jarcaig, Homecare Social Worker.
Special thanks to Ms. Esther Landsman, advisor for
the Beth Jacob Chessed Program, who has acted as
liaison between the school and IFS. We at JFS appreciate
her many hours of work outside of school hours to assist
us. We are very happy to report that in January, a future
Beth Jacob student was born to the Landsman family.
Mazel Tov!
Esty Lauer and Esther Weingarden
visit Leah Gussin (center) in her home.
Beth Jacob students, Rivki Bakst and Sara Meta Baum, visit
Anna Cooper (center) in her home, as part of the Jewish
Family Service's Intergenerational Friendly Visiting Program.
Twenty-seven Beth Jacob students participate in this
project, which began in the fall of 1995. Participating
students were required to attend two orientation sessions
which prepared them for their roles as friendly visitors.
The myths and realities of aging were discussed, and
students participated in sensory deprivation exercises,
giving them a clearer understanding of the kinds of
disabilities that the aging process can bring. Each student
received an information package which discussed
common problems they might encounter, ice breaking
topics for discussion, and issues and concerns many older
adults experience.
Contact is maintained on a regular basis between JFS,
the school and the students. Students will have opportu-
nities throughout the year to share their experiences with
JFS staff, as well as their peers.
Faye Sills, 87, a recipient of the Jewish Association
for Residential Care's "Heart of Gold" award for her
many years of volunteer work with developmentally
disabled children, is now visited by Naomi Apt and
Shevy Perecman.
Helen Siegel, 95, spent a lifetime doing community
volunteer work in her native Norwich, Connecticut, before
moving to the Detroit area to be closer to family. She is
now visited by Leah Malka Broyde and Yehudis Rochel
Greenfield.
Shevy Perecman and Naomi Apt get together
with Fayes Sills (center) for a winter afternoon chat.
• THE INSIDER •
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
24123 Greenfield Road
Southfield, MI 48075
Phone: 810-559-1500
JFS Branch Office:
6960 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 202
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Phone: 810-737-5055
John D. Marx, D.D.S. President
Alan Goodman Executive Director
Margaret Weiner Associate Executive Director
Editors:
Marcia Femrite Director, Community Resource Development
Susan Ulanoff Donations Liaison
Arleene Goldenberg-Green - Staff Photographer
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Rochel Perczyk and Shana Divinsky meet with
Herietta Stein (center) on a regular basis.
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Other student teams participating in the program are:
Yocheved Beer and Penina Shoenig, Shana Divinsky and
Rochel Perczyk, Bassie Fine and Rivky Nusbaum, Chana
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Beneficiary of:
A
AREA AGENCY
Untbed Way
JEWISH
FAMILY
SERVICE
,
24123 Greenfield Road
Southfield, MI 48075
ON AGING