The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit and Chabad
invite you to experience the

Barbara and Douglas Bloom
Matzah Factory

A one-hour tour includes matzoh baking, craft making
and learning about the wonderful holiday of Passover.

Sundays, March 11 and March 24 • 1:30-5:30 pit

LAST TOUR BEGINS AT 4:30 P.M.
FREE ADMISSION • EVERYONE WELCOME!

Bikur Cholim annual dinner honors
those doing an important mitzvah.

SUSAN TAWIL
Special to the Jewish News

7

b. ban & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI

Jewish Way. He has a doctorate in pas-
toral counseling and has been honored
for his chaplaincy work.
Rabbi Schur discussed the impor-
tance of bikur cholim (the mitzvah of
visiting the sick) and effective methods
of connecting and empathizing with
patients. He dedicated his talk to the

o a hospital patient who
is alone and depressed, a
friendly visit can give
hope, encouragement and
the will to live.
So important is this
mitzvah, said Rabbi Tsvi
Schur, that the talmudic
sage Rabbi Akiva taught
that "one who does not
visit the sick is as
though he shed blood."
Rabbi Schur, director
of Jewish Chaplaincy
Services and Jewish
Hospice Services in
Baltimore, was guest
speaker at the annual
meeting of Ahavas
Chesed Bikur Cholim
Rabbi Tsvi Schur
(lovingkindness, visiting
the sick) held Feb. 17,
memory of Oak Park's Rabbi Avrohom
at Young Israel of Oak Park. The meet-
Abba
Freedman, who devoted his life to
ing honored long-time member Mrs.
helping
others. Rabbi Freedman died
Pearl Biber of Bingham Farms.
Feb.
2.
Founded in 1988, Ahavas Chesed
"There is no limit to the mitzvah of
Bikur Cholim coordinates members
bikur cholim," said Rabbi Schur, quot-
who volunteer their time to visit the
ing the talmudic dictum. "It is a mitz-
Jewish sick and disabled in hospitals,
vah incumbent upon all Jews, regardless
nursing homes, residential care facilities
of affiliation."
and private homes.
He told stories of particularly inter-
The organization includes not only
esting
experiences with patients, empha-
men and women, but also Jewish day
sizing
the importance of listening and
school and post-seminary students who
doing
things
to make the patient feel
visit the frail elderly on a regular basis.
special,
which
might include arranging
Although the nearly 100 members
for
baseball
players
to visit a sick 9-year-
attending Sunday's meeting were
old.
Orthodox, the organization encourages
"I always keep in mind what (the late
participation of Jews of any denomina-
Torah sage) Rav Schach told me, that
tion.
what I was doing was God's work," said
"There is a tremendous need for
Rabbi Schur. "That's what bikur cholim
more volunteers," said president Shirley
is — God's work." Li
Jarcaig. "Even if it's for only an hour or
two a month."
The meeting was co-sponsored by
For further information or to
the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy
volunteer or donate to Ahavas
Network, Hebrew Memorial Chapel in
Chesed Bikur Cholim, please
Oak Park, the Kollel Institute of Greater
call Shirley Jarcaig at (248)
Detroit and Chemed, a respite-support
661-2999 or Sarah Krakauer at
organization for families of the ill.
(248) 443-5107.
The evening's speaker, Rabbi Schur,
is author of Illness and Crisis: Coping the

For more information or to schedule group tours during the week,
please call the Jewish Life and Learning office, (248) 432-5577.

Additional support provided by: the Berard L Maas Foundation, Hiram Dorfman and David Engelbert, trustees
Produced in cooperation with The Bois Menachem Academy and Yeshivat Menachem Mendel Lubavitch

TCC

U=1.75,

Sarah &Irving Pitt
Child Development Center

:33215
West Seven Mile Rd.

HENRY F. MARCUS, D.O., F.A.C.O.P.
TODD S. MARCUS, D.O., F.A.C.O.P.
RUTH SACCO, P.A.C.

Are Pleased To Announce

(2 blocks east of.
Farmington Road)

Livonia,
Michigan 48152
Phone:
248-478-3200

(Formerly of Metropolitan Assoc. in Pediatrics)

Has joined our practice specializing in
infant, children and adolescent care.

Effective March 4, 2002

By appointment only

Most insurances accepted

3/1
2 0 02

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