Specializing in Alzh.eimer's and the Physically Frail Warsaw Ghetto Commemoration For four weeks in the spring of 1943, in the Jewish quarter of Warsaw, an underground rebel group put up a fierce fight against Nazi SS troopers, tanks, artillery, machine guns, flame throwers and dogs before finally being overwhelmed by the massive German force. Every year since 1944, the Workmen's Circle has held a formal commem- oration of the heroic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. "We've never missed a year," says Selma Goode of Detroit, who has orga- nized the services for the past two decades. For many years, a branch made up solely of Holocaust survivors orga- nized the observance. Now, the commemoration looks as much to the future as to the past, involving the young people of the Workmen's Circle. "Most of the fighters were young," says Maureen Davidson Petrucci, adult leader of the Teen Group. "The young people feel a real affinity, a sol- idarity with those who fought to the bitter end." And what can young people learn from the uprising? "They learn that sometimes you've got to stand up for, maybe even die for what's right," says Goode. "But our people and our culture will survive." — • •• Sutton Homes proudly presents The Bradford House dementia. Each home is located in a fine Sutton Homes are more than general suburban residential neighborhood. assisted living facilities. We are unique, Each home accomodates 5 or 6 elderly highly specialized Personal Care Homes residents with care specialists for the frail elderly. or those with memory loss, Call or Visit Today. present 24 hours a day and confusion and related The Bradford House daily on-site nurse visits. 3132 E. Bradford Drive:Bloomfield 1\vp. (248) 723-5911 Located between Maple & 14 off Lahser, east on Lincoln. Open Mon-Fri 10 am - 4 pm George Dila Michigan District of the Workmen's Circle is optimistic about the future, the organization faces some serious challenges. One of the most pressing is attract- ing new people. Currently, there are just over 250 members. "Reaching the unaffiliated Jewish population is our biggest challenge," says Karen Rosenstein of Troy, Workmen's Circle Michigan District director. "We're not good marketers of our- selves," says Selma Goode. Many families who have rejected the traditional synagogue experience, or who feel rejected by traditional Judaism, have found a cultural, ethical home with the Workman's Circle that is supportive and inspiring, Rosenstein says. "Our challenge is to communi- cate the value of that experience to others who could benefit." A hundred years ago, immigrant workers joined the Workmen's Circle out of necessity — for support, for education, for a fighting chance to make things better. In later years, they came to the group with a burning desire to make things right. They fought for workers, for minorities, for freedom and for the State of Israel. Today, families join the Workmen's Circle for fulfillment, as a way to dis- cover and express and enjoy their Jewishness. And although the politics may not be as extreme as in the early days, woven into the fabric of the Workmen's Circle philosophy is an abiding commitment to creating a The Future a more beau- shenere un bessere velt Although the current leadership of the tiful and better world. El of "a kumzitz — the Shmooze Cafe," adult discussion sessions held regularly in members' homes. They want their teens to find a home in the Teen Group. They bring the extended fami- ly to the secular celebrations of the holidays, like the annual Circle Seder for Passover, and the observances of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Steve and Linda Gold of Huntington Woods joined the Workmen's Circle eight years ago, when daughter Sara was 10 and son Daniel was 7. We're very secular, non-religious, non-theological," says Steve Gold. 'And we're very comfortable with our cultural Judaism." The Workmen's Circle gave the Gold family the connection to Jewish culture they needed. Daniel and Sara went through the shule, reaching their bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah. Sara was very active in the Teen Group, and although she is now away at college, she re-connects with those friends when she is home. Huntington Woods' Ellen Bates- Brackett and her family have been members for 18 years. "The Workmen's Circle has been a place to find and express my Jewishness," she says. "And along with being Jewish comes a responsibility to make the world a better place. It comes with the territory. I think we, as Jews, have a mandate to do good. This is central to the Workmen's Circle." - • W • WHERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE MAKES THE. DIFFERENCE! 248.855.8747 Call today for your free Ai-home consultation 41. 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