SPACE for Changing Families -
Children's Bereavement
Support Group*
FAX:
Support Groups
Eight consecutiveTuesday evenings, 7 -
9 p.m. For men and women grieving the
death of their spouse/partner. Provides
an overview of the grieving experience.
Offers a safe place for grieving
spouses/partners to give and get
support.
Temple Israel
5725 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(248) 661-5700
FAX: (248) 661-1302
Email: kprovize@temple-israel.org
Website: www.temple-israel.org
Contact Person: Kari K Provizer, ACSW
(248) 355-9951
Contact Person: Judy Kotzen
National Council for Jewish Women
26400 Lahser Road, Suite 100
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 355-9936
FAX: (248) 355-9951
Contact Person: Judy Kotzen
Six Monday evenings, 5:45 to 7 p.m.
Children who lost a loved one are placed
in age-appropriate groups. Provides a
safe setting to come to some acceptance
and understanding. Also a concurrent
parent (or caregiver) support group.
SPACE for Changing Families -
Spousal Bereavement
Support Group*
SPACE for Changing Families -
Stress Reduction Workshop*
National Council of Jewish Women
26400 Lahser Road, Suite 100
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 355-9936
FAX (248) 355-9951
Contact Person: Judy Kotzen
One-session workshop offered regularly
throughout the year, usually from 7 to
8:30 p.m. Helps participants learn stress-
reduction techniques and to implement
them regularly into their lifestyle.
National Council of Jewish Women
26400 Lahser Road, Suite 100
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 355-9936
Sponsored by Caring Community
Committee, all are free to the Jewish
community. Includes Alcoholics
Anonymous, Alzheimers Group, Pre-
Marital Group, Bereavement Support,
Divorce Support and our physically
challenged F.U.N. (Flourish, Unite,
Nurture) Group.
WINDOWS/Family Violence
Prevention*
Jewish Family Service
6960 Orchard Lake Road #202
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
B
renda is an 18-year ovarian cancer survivor who knows
"They touch
the pain, fear and challenge of living with a life-threat-
ening disease. Her oncologist suggested she use her skills
my life;
as a therapist to help others dealing with cancer.
I hope I make
She started working with a few patients, then spoke at a Can-
cer Survivors Day program about her own experiences. She at-
an impact
tended fundraisers and walk-a-thons. She began facilitating an
on their lives."
ovarian cancer support group at Gilda's Club. When she heard
about beginning a support group for Jewish patients, she vol-
unteered immediately.
"I was really moved to do this," says Brenda, citing research that shows those in
support groups live twice as long as those who aren't.
Along with Pat Sachs, a social worker at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Insti-
tute, Brenda developed N'siah: A Journey. The 10-week spiritual therapeutic support
group began in 1997 at Temple Beth El and now rotates among many synagogues. First
Honorable Menschen
participants were women with breast cancer, but now the group also includes those with
other forms of cancer and men.
"We use the idea of how Judaism can help us cope at this time when people are strug-
gling with shaken faith and doubts," she says. "We offer a smorgasbord of ideas, thoughts,
West Bloomfield
techniques, prayers, even Debbie Friedman's (Mishabarach.'"
Since it began, Brenda has contributed more than 150 hours of therapy sessions to the
group. And she's trained other psychologists to do the work as well.
"I feel honored to be able to be with the participants and to walk with them," she says. "I learn every time there's a
group. It teaches us about the coping mechanisms of human beings, which are enhanced by the cancer experience.
"It's important to know that life doesn't stop while battling cancer. There are bad days, but also very good days."
Keri tauten Cohen
66
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