/—/
`The longer a person stays un-
buried, the longer a soul is con-
fused. It needs to be buried to go
where it has to go and also for the
body to begin decaying. The
Torah says a person is made in
the image of God, so we have to
make sure that image remains
in an honorable state as long as
it can," Rabbi Levin explained.
In 1995, Hebrew Memorial
fought the state over its refusal
to cover burial expenses for a
"Izabella is a very fine woman
and wants to help pay the bill. I
don't want her to think we didn't
fight hard enough. We are sym-
pathetic to her and will support
her every step of the way. If it's
necessary, we'll write a letter to
the director of the FIA," he said.
Hebrew Memorial serves
many families from the former
Soviet Union, some of which rely
on state assistance for funeral ex-
penses. In the past year, Rabbi
Levin said, the chapel absorbed
$120,000 in expenses that went
unpaid, "mainly because new
Americans receive benefits, and
benefits don't cover the entire
amount by a long shot." The av-
erage cost of a no-frills funeral,
including a casket, burial plot
and service, is about $3,600.
Hebrew Memorial was found-
ed in 1916 and continues to op-
erate as one of the only nonprofit
funeral homes in the United
States.
Ms. Ferreri acknowledged that
the Family Independence Agency
has denied funeral benefits in the
past for reasons stemming from
a quick burial, but said it has cov-
ered the funerals of many Jew-
ish families.
The state will pay a maximum
of $1,060 for funeral expenses.
Ms. Ferreri said anyone without
financial means is eligible for the
funds. ❑
"The longer a person
stays unburied, the
longer a soul is
confused."
family that had failed to apply
for benefits before their loved one
was buried.
'We battled and won. We went
one step after the next step after
the next step. We found a Jew
who was sympathetic. But I don't
think it's anti-Semitic. We took
it to Lansing, but it was a case
that came out of Detroit. There
H were no surviving relatives, so
we took responsibility," Rabbi
Levin said.
He said he'll do whatever he
can to help Ms. Gorivodskaya.
Sidon
Foundation's Role
Too Early To Tell
PHIL JACOBS EDITOR
W
ith the sale of Sinai
Hospital to the Detroit
Medical Center, spe-
cifics of the affiliation
continue to be clarified.
One of those questions con-
cerns the foundation or fund re-
sulting from the sale. Officials
have said that the foundation,
which will consist of some $50
million in proceeds from the sale,
will benefit the health and wel-
fare needs of Jewish families.
Still, officials have added, it is too
early to say specifically what the
monies will go toward.
There is also a question about
foundation monies being granted
to applicants within the general
community. Any organization,
Jewish or not Jewish, would be
General, Jewish
communities could
vie for funds.
permitted to apply to the foun-
dation for a grant.
"The fund is a work in
progress," said Sinai board chair-
man Mark Schlussel. "Its focus
and direction are being general-
ly outlined at this time.
"Nothing as far as the general
Detroit community is precluded
at this time. The fund will be re-
ceptive to entertaining requests
from the community as long as
these requests are in line with
the mission of our fund and con-
sistent with the mission of the
[Jewish] Federation. The Feder-
ation has done many remarkable
things in terms of the general
community."
The foundation will consist of
22 members, including Sinai
board members, Jewish Federa-
tion of Metropolitan Detroit offi-
cers and members of the Sinai
Health Care Foundation.
Federation Executive Vice
President Robert Aronson has
said that the foundation needs to
be connected with the general
mission and purpose of Sinai. It
will be a "safety net" for social ser-
vices. The foundation will not be
controlled by Federation, yet it
will be strongly associated with
the Federation.
While the words "general com-
munity" have been talked about
in terms of the foundation, Mr.
Aronson said it is too early to tell
what that will mean.
"There is a legitimate call to se-
cure part of the fund for the gen-
eral community," he has said.
❑
Publicity Deadlines
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date. The deadline for out-of-town obituaries is 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days prior to issue date.
All material must be typewritten, double-spaced, on 8 1/2x 11 paper and include the name and day-
time telephone number of sender.
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