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NoTEDoel Dorfman/chair
Holocaust survivors, like my parents,
have gone through a great deal in
their lives. Their homes and families
were devastated and they endured
unspeakable horrors. Still, they built
new lives in a new country. They
worked hard, raised families, and
have contributed enormously to our
history, culture and society.
Now, our survivors are elderly and
are in need of support. Many of our
survivors are very depressed, lonely,
and isolated. They worry about their
health and about the passing away of
their loved ones. They also worry a
great deal about their children and
grandchildren, about Israel, the state
of affairs in the world, and the kind of
world in which their families will
continue to live.
Through professional support groups
and private counseling by Dr. Charles
Silow, Director, the Program for
Holocaust Survivors and Families
provides an environment where sur-
vivors can share with each other, talk
about their concerns and find
strength and encouragement from
one another. At Cafe Europa and the
Yiddish/English film series, survivors
feel like whole people. They derive
much pride and satisfaction from see-
ing their photographs displayed in
the Portraits of Honor exhibit. Of
A NOTE/DC.
equal importance, is the fact that the
Program educates and guides the gen-
eral community about the needs of
the survivors and their families.
Time is quickly passing for our Stir-
Charles
SROW/Program Founder/ Director
Program History
present day.
As a son of Holocaust survivors, I have
always been interested in the Holocaust
and how it has affected the survivors and
the children of survivors.
My mother is a survivor of
Auschwitz and Bergen-
Belsen concentration
camps; my father was able
to flee to Russia. I have
been active with the
Holocaust survivor and
children of Holocaust sur-
vivor community for
many years.
Initially, with the support of Sinai
Hospital, the Program for Holocaust
Survivors and Families was created to
address the psychosocial needs of our sur-
vivors. Also, I have found that as sur-
vivors became older, many are less emo-
tionally and physically able to cope with
the difficulties of aging. As survivors
begin to become more frail and ill or as
they begin to lose loved ones (once
again), they become more vulnerable to
symptoms of loss, loneliness, anxiety and
depression.
As a graduate student
from the University of
Detroit, I had the oppor-
tunity to focus my doc-
Joel Dorfman, Chairperson and Dr. Charles Silow, Director toral dissertation on the
psychological effects of the
Holocaust on survivors.
My thesis examined whether after fifty
vivors. Our survivors desperately
years, Holocaust survivors continued to
need the support and counseling pro-
have symptoms of PTSD (Post-traumatic
vided by the Program for Holocaust
Stress Disorder) which are continuing,
Survivors and Families.
The
problematic symptoms of anxiety and
Program, provided through the
depression related to their experiences.
Jewish Home & Aging Services,
Not surprisingly, I found that all 39 of the
needs your financial support so that
survivors that were interviewed contin-
it may continue its important work. I
ued to have problems related to their
encourage you to take the steps to
Holocaust experiences. For most sur-
help support this extremely impor-
vivors, the horrific memories and the
tant organization.
anguish that they suffered have contin-
ued to haunt and disturb them to this
Today, the Program for Holocaust
Survivors and Families provides a safe,
non-threatening forum where survivors
may come together to talk about their
feelings and concerns, and schmooze.
They talk about their concerns and wor-
ries as well their strengths. They become
a community that is concerned and are
there to help one another. For many who
are alone, the support groups as well as
our other programs such as Café Europa,
the Jewish video series, and Portraits of
Honor provide awarm, caring, and heal-
ing environment.
In the near future, we are planning a sup-
port group for children of survivors.
I invite survivors and their families to
contact me for services at 248-661-2999 x
299 or online at csliow@jhas.org .
Community Resources for Holocaust Survivors
Program for Holocaust Survivors and
Families, Jewish Home & Aging Services
Contact: Dr. Charles Silow,
Program Director
Sharon Levine,
Program Coordinator
248-661-2999 ext. 299
www.jhas.org/holocaust
Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program
Jewish Home & Aging Services
Contact: Shirley Jarcaig,
Program Coordinator
248-661-2999
www.jhas.org
Jewish Family Services
Contract: Intake worker
248-559-1500
The Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network
Holocaust Education Coalition
Contact: Rabbi E.B. Friedman,
Executive Director
248-559-1500 ext. 150
www.jewishhospice.org
Contact: Rene Lichtman, Co-Chairperson
248-932-1834
C.H.A.I.M. -Children of Holocaust-Survivors
Association In Michigan
Contact: Charles Silow, President
248-661-2999 ext. 299
www.CHAIM2g.org
Hidden Children and Child Survivors of
Michigan
Contact: Rene Lichtman, President
248-932-1834
www.wfj csh. org
Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor
Oral History Archive
Contact: Dr. Sidney Bolkosky, Professor,
University of Michigan-Dearborn
313-593-5135
holocaust.umd.umich.edu
Holocaust Memorial Center
Contact: Rabbi Charles Rosenzveig,
Executive Director
248-553-2400
www.holocaustcenter.org
Jewish Family Services
Jewish Family Service (JFS) has provided assis-
tance to Holocaust survivors seeking restitution for
their suffering under the Nazi regime. Their staff
and volunteers assist survivors by filing and nota-
rizing Annual Life Certificates, filing new applica-
tions with the German government for German
Social Security and widows' pensions, filing claims
with the Conference on Material Claims Against
Germany (Claims Conference) for the Hardship
Fund, and for Article II Fund benefits.
JFS assigns a care manager to all survivors. The
care managers can assist survivors in accessing
other agency services, as well as providing assis-
tance with applications for government entitle-
ments and access to community resources. They
also provide a Home Care Program, which affords
services to survivors such as light housekeeping,
personal care services, and respite care services.
The Emergency Financial Assistance Grant assists
low-income Holocaust survivors in meeting emer-
gency needs, such as unmet medical needs and
emergency housing issues.
Holocaust survivors may also access JFS services to
the Detroit community by phoning the JFS
Information and Referral line at 248-559-1500.