Spiritual Offerings

A few non-Jewish nursing homes are bringing
religion to their Jewish residents.

JULIE EDGAR SENIOR WRITER

/-

oughly 650 elderly Jewish
residents are scattered in
nursing homes through-
out the metropolitan area.
With the hiring in June of
a full-time rabbi, the Jewish
Federation's Commission on
Jewish Eldercare Services (CO-
JES) is attempting to reach iso-
lated Jewish residents with
religious services, cultural pro-
gramming and regular rabbinic
visits.
But some non-Jewish nursing
homes have started their own
programs that offer spiritual
succor to Jewish residents.
Last week, ManorCare
Health Services nursing care fa-
cility in West Bloomfield, for-
merly Windemere, held its first
Shabbat service with Rabbi
Daniel Nevins of Adat Shalom
Synagogue. The home, whose
Jewish population comprises al-
most half the residents, is in the
process of enlisting other rabbis

to lead services on a rotating ba-
sis, and plans to offer music, art,
dance and song, greater com-
munity involvement and kosher-
style meals.
"It's really, in a way, trying to
say to the Jewish residents, We
know you have a special religion
and culture and we not only
want to be aware of it but we
want to meet your needs," said
Jack Janosik, market develop-
ment manager for ManorCare
Services.
Letters went out to the fami-
lies of residents asking them to
participate and promote the Ma-
gan Tikvah program. And while
its still in its infancy, the feed-
back has been positive.
"In a quiet way, we've heard
lots of good things in one-on-one
conversations with residents and
their families. As we add pro-
grams or get involved in other
areas, I'm sure we'll learn more,"
Janosik said.

Magan Tikvah is offered in 8 portant. The more outside What's wonderful is that so
to 10 facilities throughout the groups that come in, the better many of the folks who don't hap-
United States. ManorCare, it is for the residents. A lot of pen to be Jewish come to Kid-
which is based in Maryland, also them, when they're put in nurs- dush and enjoy it," said
offers the Beth Tikvah program ing homes, their own churches Activities Director Mary Hasten.
The future of Jewish program-
in homes which have kosher forget about them."
ming is uncertain, however, be-
Lahser
Hills
in
Southfield,
kitchens.
The West Bloomfield Nursing which has a Jewish population cause the facility is in the
and Convalescent Center's pro- of 20 among its 130 residents, process of changing ownership,
gram for Jewish residents, who has always operated a kosher she said.
Margot Parr, the executive di-
comprise 87 percent of the kitchen.
"All residents eat kosher.
SPIRITUAL OFFERINGS page 18
home's population, has been op-
erating for nine
years. Rabbi Dovid
Polter, a part-time
staffer, conducts
Shabbat and holi-
day services and
Torah classes, and
the facility offers
kosher-style food
and activities that
bring in members
of the community.
Temple Israel's
Sisterhood, for ex-
ample, runs month-
ly Bingo games that
are quite popular
with the residents.
"The residents
love them," said Ac-
tivities Director
Marcia Kirk. "I re-
ally think commu-
nity involvement
within the nursing
facility is really im- Rabbi Daniel Nevins conducts the first Shabbat service at ManorCare.

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