Best whites tar- a
happy., healthy.

ritemi Wear

NAOMI TRAGER
and FAMILY

ficippy

Itsa

Volunteers of all ages join in a day of fun
and good deeds.

Photos by Joshua Kristal

1111itzva!

SHARON LUC KERMAN

Editorial Assistant

Above:
Ilana Dell, 9, of West Bloomfield
helps Menorah House residents Fran
Press, 91, and Jane Martin, 82,
with the Sukkot craft project.

Right:
Menorah House resident Sid Riskin,
87, and Benji Dell, 12, of West
Bloomfield show off their handi-
work.

Below:
Hannah Kopinsky, 6 of West
Bloomfield and Bertha Weisman, 89,
of Menorah House, worked together to
make a sukkah wreath.

S eventeen volunteers, ranging in age from 6 to over 60,
arrived last Sunday afternoon at Menorah House, a
Southfield nursing facility, ready for service.
They were participating in the first "Itsa Mitzva"
program, a day of good deeds and fun, sponsored by the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Women's Campaign and
Education Department. Almost 200 women and their families
showed up to help at the Max M. Fisher Building in
Bloomfield Township on Sunday morning, Sept. 17. They
divided into groups and headed to eight sites, including Elan
Village in Southfield, Menorah House, four Kadima houses
and three JARC houses. Participants could choose to work on
outdoor beautification projects, fall craft projects and holiday
baking with adults who have
disabilities.
Fran Schulenberg, Menorah
House activity director, wel-
comed the group of volunteers,
which included five children
ages 6-14.
"I'm in such awe of the resi-
dents," Schulenberg told the
visitors. "They've lived through
two World Wars, the
Depression — and yet they're
so resilient. They're the 'What
can I do for you?' generation.
It's a pleasure to work with
them."
Schulenberg and her aide
transformed the dining area
into an arts-and-crafts studio by moving together tables
into long rows. About 20 Menorah House residents took
seats at a table or were wheeled to one. They worked with
the volunteers to make wreaths out of cardboard and cut
foam, colorful decorations to display in a sukkah at Sukkot.
"It's a great family activity," said Suzi Dell from West
Bloomfield, who came to Itsa Mitzvah with her three chil-
dren.
Larisa Abayev of West Bloomfield, a JVS board of
trustee attending with daughter Marina, 14, said she'd
come "to see how things are in the community."
When Benji Dell, 12, was asked why he volunteered, he
simply replied, "It's a mitzvah!"
Afterward, Alaine Waldshan, staff associate of the
Federation's community outreach and education depart-
ment, said the day's program was very successful.
"Not only did the women and their families enjoy them-
selves," she said, "but they became inspired by their experi-
ences." ❑

N ew
Yeas*

May the comin g
Yea,. be filled
with health and
happiness fop'
all ovit, family
and -friends.

DR. KENNETH, LAURIE,
ANDREW & MELANIE
GOLDMAN

ficippy

New

'Vadat(

May the comin g
yeav be filled

with health and
happiness for.

all

otw

family
and -friends.
GAYLE & ARNIE GOODMAN
JACLYN, RICHARD & NICOLE

Happy

New

Year

May the comin g
yea, be filled

►

with health and
happiness fop'
all ow. family
and -friends.
MARILYN & BARRY
GOODMAN

HaPPY

N ew

Watt

May the comin g

yectv

be filled
with kectItk and
happiness fop.

ca ll ot4v family

and friends.
THE GUTTENBERGS
DOROTHY & LARRY

9/29

2000

R11