LW/Health
Families...
•
•
1
•
■
Yad Ezra provides kosher food packages to 1,000 families
every month. The families helped by Yad Ezra include:
single parents
disabled
working poor
the elderly
those in emergency situations.
new Americans
With your help, all families in our community can enjoy a
nutritious and satisfying meal.
■
■
■
■
■
Photos by Krista Husa
$ 18.00
A weekday meal for 3 small families
$ 36.00
A Holiday meal for 4 small families
$ 50.00
A Shabbat meal for 5 small families
$ 72.00
A Holiday meal for 4 large families
$ 100.00
A year of Holiday meals for 1 family
$ 200.00
A year of Holiday meals for 2 families
$ 500.00
A year of Shabbat meals for 1 small family
Enclosed is my check in the amount of
as a tax deductible contribution to Yad Ezra to help feed the
Jewish hungry. Your contribution is eligible for a 50% Michigan Tax Credit
(subject to certain limitations).
Name
Address
City
Phone
Zip
State
Make checks payable to Yad Ezra or
charge your contribution to your VISA/Mastercard or Discover. (Minimum sug-
gested donation - $18.00)
Exp.Date
Card No.
Signature
Name
Mail to: 26641 Harding ■ Oak Park, MI 48237
Tributes and Memorials available.
YAD EZRA
reeddig the IeMeh flithgry
For more information
call 810-548-3663
Atv40A1T144,
SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY SINCE 1970
ISRAEL FAMILY TOURS
Bar Mitzvah Child Travels Completely Free! (no hidden costs)
We Offer The Best Tour Staying At The Best Hotels For The Best Prices!
Featuring The KING DAVID & DAN Tel Aviv Hotels
SIGN UP NOW & RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS FOR SUMMER 1998
ir LET US CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOUR TO ISRAEL!
4/24
1998
124
1•-..v* 301/3844660
1-800-338-7075
give someone was putting them in
touch with a survivor who had expe-
rienced what they are now handling."
The women explored different
options in establishing a cancer sup-
port group, and learned about the
formation of Gilda's Club in New
York by actor Gene Wilder, Radner's
husband, and Joanna Bull, who had
been Radner's therapist with the
Wellness Community in California.
"We thought it was a natural for
Detroit, because her family is here,
she was originally from Detroit, and
we have her brother and cousins
involved," says Lester. "We also really
liked it because it was a support
group for women, men and children,
and not all of the other groups are."
Michael Radner laughs. "I got a
call from some women in
Detroit, that they wanted to
start a Gilda's Club here, that
there was a need for emo-
tional and psychological sup-
port for people with cancer,
and there was a natural con-
nection with Gilda's home-
town. I said I was support-
ive, but that I usually do not
get involved.
"Then they invited me to
a meeting, then to a board
meeting, and then to the
executive committee. Now I
Geri Lester and Gilda's Club executive Joyce Bich-
am
happily involved up to
ler talk in a lounge area.
my chin."
In January 1994, Gilda's Club
Maureen Martinez, Sherry Medsker,
opened an office in Farmington Hills.
and the late Carol Silverman, began
The initial purpose was to train staff
to meet in the spring of 1993 with the
and to raise funds for a Gilda's Club
purpose of establishing a cancer sup-
that would provide services in a warm,
port community.
homelike environment. A staff of reg-
"The Detroit area is strong med-
istered/certified professionals were
ically, but it wasn't emotionally," says
trained at Gilda's Club in New York.
Lester. -
After much searching, the commit-
"Just recognizing the emotional
tee found a home in Royal Oak that
well-being of a patient, and what
seemed to be the perfect spot. It just
he/she is going through, is very
wasn't
in perfect shape, and a lengthy
important. It enhances the ability to
and
complete
renovation was needed.
handle the treatments better, and to
"It
was
difficult
finding the right
recover."
spot," says Grekin. "We didn't want
Jacqueline Grekin of Farmington
to just open anywhere and have to
Hills is a psychologist who specializes
move. We wanted a homelike setting,
in cancer counseling. She recognized
which was difficult to find. It also
the need after attending a support
took a while to find the right director,
group with her late sister, Rosalie
program director, and staff."
Brown, when she battled breast can-
Lester believes the home they
cer. "It seemed to energize her when
found
was meant to be. "The house
she would attend these support
was originally a Sears catalogue house
groups," says Grekin.
from 1913," she says. "Sears has come
"Speaking to someone who had
on board as a million dollar sponsor
your same kind of cancer and is still
nationally, and is paying for the grand
walking and talking is a great motiva-
opening celebration," slated for the
tor. It gives hope. In my 18 years spe-
May 1 weekend.
cializing in cancer counseling, I have
found that often the best help I could
GILDA'S DREAM on page 126
someone else who has or is dealing
with cancer," Michael says.
Breast cancer survivor Geri Lester
of Franklin knows firsthand. "Cancer
is a disease that is a common denomi-
nator," says Lester. "When you are
going through radiation, the dispari-
ties in social, economic, age --- you
name it — are gone. We were all
there, and we were going through the
same garbage, and there were no
longer any barriers.
"There was an ability to talk and
to listen together, and to heal."
Lester took her understanding of
what it takes to get through the hor-
rors of dealing with cancer, and along
with seven others — the late Bernice
Gadon, Marcia Gershenson, Jacque-
line Grekin, the late Ina Kadish,
,;