A Garden Grows

Out of love, a family donates a meditation garden to be enjoyed at retirement complex.

yard of the facility, near the
windows of the Mike and
Mary Must Dining Room.
That
helps residents who
ndrea
are
less
ambulatory to
Rubinstein lived
enjoy
the
garden's beauty
for 42 years and
during all seasons.
during that
In addition, a three-sea-
time, quite a few people
son
gazebo with a copper
grew to love her deeply.
roof
was installed out of
"She was intelligent and
view
of the windows to
logical. She had a smile
allow
family members a
that was everlasting," said
private
space. Sidewalks
her husband, Dr. Mark
wind
through
the garden,
Rubinstein of Bloomfield
which
has
a
spare
yet ele-
Hills. "She was a mother,
gant feeling, coming from
first and foremost."
the mature trees, hostas,
When she died sudden-
day lilies and other peren-
ly the day before Rosh
nials.
Hashanah two years ago,
"It is a small garden that
the outpouring of sympa-
is
sort
of tucked into this
thy was magnificent. And
space
that
was really unre-
out of that overflowing
markable
before,"
Smith
love and support grew a
said. "When you are in it
beautiful meditation gar-
now, it feels like it holds
den, in Mrs. Rubinstein's
you
like a glove."
memory. It was dedicated
West Bloomfield's Jackie Smith is the master gardener for the Marge and Robert Alpern Life Enhancement
Smith,
who worked
Nov. 5 at the Fleischman
Program at the Fleischman Residence/Blumberg Plaza.
with
Gary
Roberts
of Great
Residence/Blumberg Plaza,
Oaks
Landscape
in
Novi on
a service of Jewish Home
the
design
and
implementa-
a
private
spot
to
grieve
or
celebrate
and Aging Services
is in its 17th year.
tion of the garden, said her favorite
while surrounded by beauty. The
With Mrs. Rubinstein's death, it
(JHAS), on the Applebaum Jewish
part of the garden is a fountain made
result is the Andrea Lynn Rubinstein
was natural that friends and family
Community Campus in West
of millstones.
Family Meditation Garden.
Bloomfield.
members would want to make dona-
"It is soothing to look at," she said.
"We wanted it to be something that
Carol Rosenberg, JHAS associate
tions to the Fleischman legacy. Her
Rosenberg of JHAS said the garden
everyone could enjoy," Smith said.
director, said the garden is a place
family added to the contributions
is
a
special creation not only to this
where residents and family members
and with them, decided to donate
community,
but also to Jewish com-
All Season Eye Catcher
can go to think. "It is a lovely thing
something that everyone could use at
munities
across
the country.
A location was designated in the back
for the family to do for other fami-
the facility.
"As
far
as
we
know, this is a one-of-
lies, who may need a moment of
That was the inspiration for a
a-kind garden," she said. "We don't
peace and reflection," Rosenberg said.
garden. Rubinstein said some of the
a
V
know of any other facility in the
.ENNEKV• -
best times he had spent with his wife
United States that has such a space."
were outdoors. "We spent our time
All In The Family
Rosenberg said some of the residents'
Mrs. Rubinstein, the vivacious moth-
predominantly discussing the things
Wi t.
family
members already have visited the
er of Erika and Renee, was the daugh-
we loved in an outdoor setting."
garden,
stopping to admire the trees.
ter of Marvin and Sharon Fleischman
Jackie Smith, director of the life-
Andrea Rubenstein's legacy
But
she
is looking forward to the spring
and the granddaughter of the late
enhancement program at JHAS and a
is
a
community-funded
garden
when
bulbs
begin to sprout flowers in
master gardener, met with the family
Freda and Edward Fleischman, the
the
plain
yard
that existed before.
philanthropists who helped to fund
and with administration. It was decid-
that lets seniors and their
"The garden is a great gift to the
the building that bears their name.
ed that a place would be created on
families enjoy nature's beauty.
community," Rosenberg said.
Fleischman Residence/Blumberg Plaza
the grounds that would allow families

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
Special to the Jewish News

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