Life's Journeys

Celebrating life at the end of the journey

t was all there: the challah, the
wine, the candles, the shofar and
the rabbis, Bunny Friedman and
Herschel Klainberg—all gathered
to observe Rosh Hashanah with
Jewish patients and their families at
the Farmington Hills Hospice Home.
It marked the first Jewish New Year
celebration at Hospice Home, and it
was a memorable occasion for many
reasons.
It was the first time the number
of Jewish patients at Hospice Home
made it appropriate to plan such an
event. And while the occasion could
have been one of sadness, for our
patients knew this was probably their
last Rosh Hashanah, it was festive
nonetheless.
There was the glow of candles lit
by a resident, the traditional blessings
over wine and bread, and our amazing
cheerful volunteers who set up and
served a traditional holiday dinner,
underwritten by an anonymous
donor. I am told that in Judaism,
giving anonymously represents the
highest form of charity. Someone in
the Jewish community was our angel
for this day.

A message from Dottie Deremo,
President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan

volunteer just "shows up" to see
where she is needed. She says that
some days she answers the phone as
a receptionist; other days she works
in the office as a clerk. We have one
volunteer whose full-time job is at a
funeral home. She makes it her
responsibility to bring flowers from
the funeral home, arranging them
into colorful bouquets in our
Hospice Home lobby and dining
room.

I

Son Richard Orbach, a professional
dancer and teacher in Jerusalem,
performs at Sunday's celebration a
celebratory dance he choreographed.

Evelyn Orbach, artistic director of the
Jewish Ensemble Theatre at the West
Bloomfield JCC. "The difference
between us and a family that's close
physically is that we make opportuni-
ties to jump and run to wherever the
family might be."
In June, the Orbach children all
traveled to Greece to celebrate their
parents' 50th wedding anniversary.
Even when home, Evelyn says, "We
both juggle our schedules. We're both
on the run and may have to have din-
ner at an odd hour or at an odd
place."
They always share Shabbat dinner
with one another and she says they do
spend much time talking.
"Both my wife and I feel the impor-
tance of being creative in the field of
Jewish culture," says the cantor.
The couple's children and grandchil-
dren are Richard and Svetlana Orbach
and their children Raziel, 18; Roey, 16;
and Emily, 3, of Jerusalem; Sharon
Orbach Quarters and Howard Quarters
of St. Joseph, Mich., and their children,
Jessica Renick, 16, and 14-year-old
Michael, 10-year-old David and 5-year-
old Brandon Quarters; Judith Orbach
Chamberlin and Paul Chamberlin and
Kaliana, 11, and Tessa, 7, of Orange
County, Calif.; and Lila and Jeff
Lazarus of Commerce Township.
"My mother sees my father as some-
one with focus," Sharon Orbach
Quarters says. "She sees him as creative
— but also with an ability to find the
best attributes in a concert or an idea or
person."
Sharon relays a quip by her sister
Lila, who shares her multi-tasking
father's love for humor, at a dinner fol-
lowing the Oct. 7 concert celebration.
"Lila said, 'My father is someone
who drives his car while listening to his
own CD — and enjoys it, learning an
aria taped to the dash, eating food from
his last bar mitzvah — and doing a
crossword puzzle."' ❑

".. , while the occasion could have

been one of sadness, for our
patients knew this was probably
their last Rosh Hashanah, it was
,
festive nonethetess.

Certainly it was a thoughtful day
in view of the catastrophic events in
New York and Washington, D.C. Pola
Friedman, our Director of Jewish
Affairs, remarked how it is the essence
of Judaism to cherish every moment,
and Rabbi Friedman echoed this,
reminding everyone how every single
day is precious. Hospice of Michigan

exists so that these precious days are
without pain, making it possible to
enjoy special times with family and
friends. Our chapel and dining room
at Hospice Home were crowded
with guests of every age. It was a cel-
ebration of life.
Hospice staff members, Pat Albaum,
a grief support counselor, and Bobbie
Blitz, our Jewish liaison specialist,
worked together to plan the Rosh
Hashanah observance, but they were
assisted by our dedicated volunteers,
Nathan Shiovitz, Ethel Rosen, Freda
Lerman, Rosalyn Fantich, Sandra
Marshall and Ann Freeman.
At Farmington Hills Hospice
Home, we want our patients to find
reasons to live, to celebrate the sea-
sons and the holidays. We are non-
denominational, for as Rabbi
Freedman noted, "God created one
person and we are all descended
from that same person, or as he
amended, "the same stem cell line."
Our Hospice volunteers contribute
to our program in many ways. Some
work directly with patients, visiting
their homes on a regular basis. One

"Our lift journey has an end.
We have learned in recent weeks
that no one can predict the time
and place of that ending,"

So many times, I am asked about
our work at Hospice of Michigan, for
to many it seems it must be filled
with sadness.Ask Bobbie Blitz or
Pat Albaum.They will attest that the
Hospice experience is most reward-
ing.
Our life journey has an end. We
have learned in recent weeks that no
one can predict the time and place
of that ending. We can only be grate-
ful if it is part of the natural plan of
the universe, and if there are final
days to celebrate the life we have
been given and the peace we have
enjoyed.
When our executive medical
director, Dr. John Finn, speaks at
Borders in Birmingham at 7:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, Oct. 16, his topic will be
"Miracles Do Happen: How the End
of Life Can Enrich Your Life." It repre-
sents our philosophy at Hospice of
Michigan.The lecture is free of charge
and I warmly invite you to attend.
To learn more about our Jewish
Hospice Program, contact Bobbie
Blitz at 248-253-2580, ext. 4523.

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