Community
Spirituality
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Robert Torgow says the blessing over the Shabbat wine.
Volunteer group
prepares
Shabbat-service
books for
assisted-living
residents.
leaders,
arranged for 40
Staff Writer
copies of the
siddur to be
n most cases, an author publishes
duplicated and
a book and sets out to find read-
bound. His
ers. More rarely is a group target-
group covered
ed, and then a book created for
Robert Torgow and Elan Village Executive
the project's
their needs.
Director Marcia Mittelman
cost.
At Elan Village, an assisted-living
Torgow says
facility in Southfield, volunteers leading
other Shabbat songs and staying to eat
the Young Israel of Southfield involve-
Shabbat services noticed many of the
dinner with the residents. Although not
ment at Elan Village originated many
residents having difficulty reading the
an official Young Israel visit, he says he
years ago when synagogue member
small, Hebrew print of their siddurim
"usually takes a grandchild or two" from
Irwin Posner visited residents at Prentis
(prayer books).
among his 13.
Manor, a Jewish Federation of
The group, comprised of Young Israel
A newer facet of the program is the
Metropolitan Detroit-supported agency
of Southfield members, researched the
inclusion of 10-12 of the synagogue's
that was formerly at the site on Lahser
purchase of new siddurim for the facili-
youth. Last year, they began taking turns
Road at Civic Center Drive. Posner
ty. At the Jewish Library for the Blind in
with the adult groups in conducting the
wanted "to make sure there were ser-
New York, they found Hebrew prayer
services, then remaining with residents
vices" every Shabbat and holiday, says
books but without English translation.
during the Shabbat afternoon.
Torgow, so he brought his three sons
Other books they located with both
The group also visits during holi-
with him, enlisted fellow member
Hebrew and English either had very
days,
providing Yizkor pamphlets,
Robert Weiss, and organized a group.
small print or were too heavy for the
blowing
the shofar on Rosh HaShana
When Prentis Manor was closed
seniors to hold.
and helping to carry Torahs and flags
and privately reopened as a kosher
Tackling the problem, Rabbi
on Simchat Torah.
facility, the synagogue members
Elimelech Goldberg of the congregation
The meeting of the Young Israel
returned. The group has grown to 25
ordered a Davka-published computer
group and Elan Village residents is not
volunteers, who take turns leading ser-
program called The Siddur. He spent
limited to their time together at the ser-
vices at Elan Village.
many hours reviewing it, choosing
vice. Volunteers arrive early on Saturday
Torgow, involved with the Saturday
prayers and locating appropriate transla-
mornings, Torgow says, 'cm go to resi-
morning group for 12-14 years, has for
tions for creating an adapted siddur.
dents' rooms or the lobby, bring them
the last year-and-a-half included visits
Rabbi Goldberg says the group then
into the chapel, help with tallaisim" and
"researched various binders, looking for with his mother-in-law Bluma Merzon.
kippot. The women residents made
He is also a weekly Friday evening
one that would be protective, durable
doilies to wear during the Orthodox ser-
guest, making Kiddush and HaMotzi
and easily usable" for seniors to turn
vice, which is held in the chapel and
(blessings over the Shabbat wine and
pages and hold onto. Robert Torgow,
divided by a mechitza (partition in a
bread),
singing "Sholem Aleichem" and
one of the synagogue's Shabbat service
SHELLI DORFMAN
I
10/22
synagogue) made of two benches. And
just like in any synagogue, following the
service, everyone meets for a Kiddush of
kichel and cake with time to socialize.
Marcia Mittelman, Elan Village exec-
utive director, appreciates the commit-
ment of the Young Israel volunteers.
"They are doing this from the heart,"
she says, "They don't expect anything
back in return." The front cover of the
new siddurim confirms that with this
notation: "Dedicated by the members of
the Young Israel of Southfield who are
honored to provide Shabbat services for
the residents of Elan Village." ❑
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Young Israel of Southfield
creates siddur to make
observance of Shabbat
A
easier for seniors.