Life's Journeys
A message from Dottie Deremo,
President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan
t Hospice of Michigan, our
WC
ISSUES
New York/JTA
The United Jewish Communities
plans to focus its efforts on three to
five major issues.
In addition to promoting solidari-
ty with Israel, some of the issues
being floated are:
• Care for elderly Jews;
• Programs to integrate Jewish immi-
grants from the former Soviet Union
into American Jewish life;
• Advancing the status and econom-
ic well being of Ethiopian Jews in
Israel;
• Humanitarian and other assistance
for Falash Mura, Ethiopians still in
Africa whose ancestors converted to
Christianity but who now practice
Judaism;
• Promoting adult Jewish learning in
North America;
• Outreach to Jews in their 20s and 30s;
• Recruiting, training and retaining
Jewish educators.
annual budget is $41.7 million.
Ironically, amid all the uncertainty at
the meetings about whether American
Jews will rally on Israel's behalf, one
beacon of hope was just a few blocks
away. While the largely middle-aged
federation leaders debated inside a
downtown Washington hotel Sunday
afternoon, hundreds of T-shirt-clad
Jewish teen-agers and college students
— mostly from the Young Judaea
youth movement — were holding a
'pro-Israel rally in 80-degree weather at
a park across from the White House.
Joshua Scharff, a high school senior
from Mount Laurel, N.J., Young
Judaea's national youth president, was
one of 60 Young Judaeans to go to
Israel on a solidarity mission this
'spring. The group is planning a rally in
New York's Central Park this summer,
he said, and — despite an overall drop
I
in tourism to Israel — has not had
'problems recruiting youth group mem-
pers for its year-long program in Israel.
n On the solidarity mission, Scharff
et with the family of Benny
kvraham, one of the Israeli soldiers
Kidnaped by Hezbollah in October.
The family told the visitors that
erican activism is "so important,
of just to them but to all of Am
israel (Jewish people)," Scharff said.
"Benny Avraham is a year older than
e," he said. "If I lived in Israel, I
ould be in the army next year —
hat could be me." ❑
Linda has a long list of volunteer
opportunities. They include patient
care activities such as reading or
holding a hand, staying with a
patient while family members take a
break or keep an appointment, shop-
ping or doing errands, providing
transportation or assisting with writ-
ing letters or even life stories.
Many of our teams can use office
help: typing, answering phones, filing
or assisting with mailings. Volunteers
also help with special events. And
finally, we need volunteers to help
spread the message about hospice
through our Speaker's Bureau. To
learn more about volunteer opportu-
nities, call Linda at 248-559-3195. In
northern Oakland County, call Mara
Figel at 248-253-2580.
mission statement is a mantra:
"to ensure quality of life and a
comfortable, peaceful death for all
patients receiving our care and to
provide support for their loved ones."
We are so committed to this
process and the services that facilitate
it that sometimes we have to remind
ourselves that there are many who
want to give to Hospice as well as
receive from Hospice. In other
words, we are often asked, `"How do
we express our appreciation and
support to your organization?"
Community support is essential
This occurs most frequently, of
course, after Hospice has worked
with a family who has suffered a
loss. They often name Hospice of
Michigan as an appropriate charity
for contributions to perpetuate a
loved one's memory, and certainly
we are grateful for this. I believe it is
one of the most admirable of all
Jewish customs.
But as we have become better
known in the community, we are
hearing from corporations, businesses
and organizations who recognize
that, because we serve everyone,
regardless of their insurance cover-
age or lack of coverage, grants and
fund-raising activities are essential. In
fast, last year, we provided more than
$6 million in patient care which was
not reimbursed by insurance compa-
nies. It is critically important to
maintain connections with compa-
nies like Dow Automotive, which
was the generous host sponsor of
our Crystal Rose Ball on March 31.
Several companies and organiza-
tions have inquired about require-
ments for hosting fundraisers such as
golf tournaments, bingo parties, bike-
a-thons, walk-a-thons, auctions, con-
certs, etc. To simplify this, we have
published a Third-Party Fund-raising
Spreading our message
Guide, which is available from our
More and more, we are asked to
development office by calling
present
programs and provide litera-
Elizabeth Daher at 248-443-5904.
ture
about
Hospice of Michigan. A
Hospice of Michigan also wel-
notable
example
was the recent panel
comes gifts to our Farmington Hills
discussion
held
at
Adat Shalom
Hospice Home, which opened in
Synagogue,
sponsored
by Hospice of
summer 1997. The need to expand
Michigan,
along
with
the
National
and maintain Hospice Home is ever-
Council
of
Jewish
Women,
Detroit
present, and major gifts will be needed
Jewish
News,
Greater
Detroit
as more patients seek this peaceful
Hadassah,The Sinai Guild and Women's
environment for their final weeks.
American ORT. I was pleased to par-
Volunteers needed
ticipate in this program with other
Hospice of Michigan representatives
And of course, there are other
and Arthur Horwitz, publisher of the
ways to help Hospice of Michigan.
Jewish News.
Often we hear from people who feel
Our message is that Hospice of
they have a special relationship with
Michigan is here when you need us.
Hospice of Michigan, and they want
We are very grateful to all who wish
to help in a more personal way. We
to help with our mission. For addi-
now have 13 volunteer managers
tional information about our pro-
throughout the state. In the south
grams, please Bobbie Blitz, our
Oakland County area, Linda Smith
Jewish liaison specialist, at 248-443-
coordinates volunteer training and
5907 or page her at 248-966-8262.
scheduling.
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