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Chaplaincy program
SHELL' LIEBMAN D
_ ORFMAN
StaffWriter
helps Jewish seniors
hile Rabbi Dovid Polter spends countless
hours bringing religious programming to
Jewish seniors living in non-Jewish care
facilities, sometimes he gets the opportu-
nity to bring the residents to the programs.
Some 50 seniors responded "yes" to a Sept. 25 invi-
tation to visit the sukkah (hut) at Fleischman
Residence's Blumberg Plaza in West Bloomfield.
. "The purpose of our programs is to reach out to
Jewish older adults," says Rabbi Polter of the Jewish
Community Chaplaincy Program, an offering of
Jewish Home and Aging Services in West Bloomfield.
"We are constantly bringing Jewishness to them,
like with our holiday programs, and the beautifully
designed Shabbos kits with candles, challah, gefilte fish
and utensils that were donated to us. But the annual
sukkah party is a chance for those who wouldn't be able to
eat in the sukkah to come together at
Fleischman."
The rabbi took time in the sukkah
to explain the holiday to seniors who
came from the Heatherwood
Retirement Community of Southfield,
the Heritage of Southfield, American
House-Southfield, Regent Street of
West Bloomfield and American House-
West Bloomfield.
After all of them made the two
blessings over the lulav and etrog (the
four species of Sukkot), Rabbi Polter
said, "Four of my children and my
niece walked around giving the seniors
a chance to shake the lulav and esrog."
Chaplains in the JHAS program
experience a
Sukkot mitzvah.
W
provide pastoral care and religious and cultural support to
hundreds of seniors each week.
Sometimes, Rabbi Poker will hear a comment that lets
him know his hard work is making a difference. As one
gentleman left the sukkah to go back to his senior apart-
ment home, "he told me being in the sukkah made him
feel like his Jewish battery was recharged once again." ❑
To make arrangements for a Jewish resident to be
visited by a member of the Jewish Community
Chaplaincy Program, call (248) 661-2999.
From top:
Chaim Potter, 6, of Oak Park brings cookies
and juice to sukkah guest Max Lakritz of West Bloomfield'
In the Fleischman sukkah, Rabbi Dovid Polter explains the
holiday of Sukkot and the use of the lulav and etrog.
Mario)? Allen of Southfield shakes the lulav with Rabbi
Polter.
10/4
2002
57