INSIDE Synagogue Listings . . 46 Torah Portion . Kids, Candles Kazatskas Rabbi's children join the fun at seniors' Chanukah party. SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN Sta Writer F or Jewish community chaplain Rabbi Dovid Polter, Chanukah usually means spending more time celebrat- ing with Detroit-area seniors than working in his office. "This year, like always, I spent the week of Chanukah runnina running between nurs- - ing homes and retirement communities, holding 15 Chanukah programs," says Rabbi Polter, who is part of the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program of Jewish Home and Aging Services in West Bloomfield. And when he ran, he never ran alone. "I brought my keyboard — and my kids," he says. Rabbi Polter, along with Jewish Community Chaplain Rabbi A. Irving Schnipper, spends his days providing pas- toral care and Jewish programming to hundreds of Jewish seniors who live in . non-Jewish facilities. While Shabbat and other holiday events and classes are held during the year, "the Chanukah celebration is always an especially big hit," he says. "People just come out of the . woodwork — even those I don't see at other weekly programs come out and really relish this one." So common are the faces of his children to residents of the facilities that they often ask for the kids to attend. And it's no wonder. At a Dec. 6 party at the Fountains at Franklin in Southfield, his sons sang and did the squat-posi- tioned, foot-kicking kazatska, a vigorous Russian folk dance, while his daughters chatted with some of the 75 residents and their families and helped with song sheets. Not only do residents welcome the children, says the rabbi, but also JHAS Executive Director Margot Parr and JHAS Associate s From top: Yitzak Preikujets of Oak Park plays the accordion for residents and guests. Rabbi Dovid Polter lights Chanukah candles at Fountains at Franklin, surrounded by his children Chaya Mushka, 11, Chana, 5, and Rafael Yehudah, 9. Mary Cantor, Fountains at Franklin resident, claps to the music. Director Carol Rosenberg "really honor and invite them as young volunteers." In addition to the parties, residents of local facilities received Chanukah gifts. "Shirley Jarcaig, JHAS Chaplaincy coordina- tor, organized the distribution of hundreds of Chaim Yitzchok Polter, 7, does a dance for the party-goers. packages of dreidel cookies to residents all over the Detroit area," Rabbi Polter says. Janet Antin, program director at Fleischman Residence in West Bloomfield, oversaw the packaging by the residents. "At the parties, we light the menorah and residents have latkes and sour cream and apple- sauce," Rabbi Poker says. "You can't imagine what this does to help the residents bring back youthful, sentimental, beautiful memories." To become a volunteer or to make arrange- ments for a Jewish resident to be visited by a member of the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program, call Shirley Jarcaig, at (248) 661-2999, ext. 300. 12/20 2002 43