40 o 114,Ntoiii; t n 1 , tikl 4 l ': A 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.