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Chanukah For Seniors

Tale Of Two Mezuzot

Hiddur: The Center for Aging and Judaism of the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, has introduced a new cele-
bration kit for Chanukah as part of Sacred Seasons, its set of
innovative resources for Jewish elders.
The new kits will allow many of the tens of thousands of Jewish
elders who reside in primarily non-Jewish nursing homes and
assisted living communities to celebrate the holiday. The kits
include everything a staff person or volunteer without Jewish
background needs to facilitate a Jewish celebration: a leader's
guide with background on the observance and step-by step
instructions, master copies of large-type participant handouts
and a CD recording of all the songs and blessings.
Since its launch last spring, www.sacredseasons.org , the Web
site dedicated to free distribution of kits for Passover, Shabbat and
Chanukah, has seen 6,000 visits from all over North America.
Hiddur is an academic and action center of the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pa.
For a Chanukah kit, visit www.sacredseasons.org

- Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

Chanukah Appeal

ive years ago, after eight expansions,
General Linen & Uniform Service, Detroit's
oldest industrial laundry, ran out of space.
So the company moved from Palmer and Rivard to
Piquette and Beaubien, site of Henry Ford's first
plant in Detroit.
General Linen, founded in 1919 by current presi-
dent William Schumer's father, occupies the first
floor of the 1903 plant. "I was accorded Henry
Ford's ex-office, complete with private washroom
and strong room, where I presume he kept some
cash," said Schumer, a Bloomfield Hills resident.
A few months ago, Schumer realized he had
never affixed a mezuzah to his office door. "Can
you arrange for someone to post mezuzot on my
doorposts as is called for in the Torah?" Schumer
asked.an Orthodox employee. The next day, Rabbi

F

Yosef Misholovin of Friends of the Refugees of
Eastern Europe (FREE) appeared, hammer in
hand, with two mezuzot, one for the outside door
and one for Schumer's office.
'After the blessing, Schumer said, "I gave the
rabbi a tour of my historic picture exhibit, which
included the early cars that were made in the
building over 100 years ago and one picture of
Henry Ford seated in that every room."
The rabbi, a Moscow native, suddenly became
animated and enthused.
"America, such a wonderful country, where in
the very place a terrible anti-Semite.worked, a
good Jew could subsequently occupy his space
Schumer recalled the rabbi saying.

- Robert A. Sklar, editor

New Blogger For JNonline.com

Check out our new JBlog by Nicole Frehsee. "On the Road To Find Out" is one twentysomething, Detroit
native's quest to find love, a job and herself in the big city (which one, she's not yet sure ...) Read about it
on JNonline.com . Select JBlog from the main menu on the left.

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Don't Knovv

A recent survey concluded that one in five American Jews are not o f
Ashkenazic (Eastern European) ancestry. What are they?

-Goldfein

Patty Shook of West Bloomfield stores food for Yad Ezra.

To ensure needy Jewish Detroiters a celebration of Chanukah with
amenities like a menorah, candles, driedels and holiday food items,
Yad Ezra, Michigan's only kosher food pantry, will distribute special
Chanukah packages for the 1,150 clients they serve each month.
In addition to the holiday food packages — which include frozen
latkes, applesauce and chocolate coins — the Berkley-based agency
will present clients with a Chanukah giftpackage of kitchen utensils,
towels, potholders and other household goods.
"Every year, we give out a different gift package said Lea Luger,
Yad Ezra's development director and co-executive
director. "In past years, we've given out first aid kits,
paper goods, laundry-related products. We are also
getting toys from Detroit Old Newspaper Boys,
Goodfellows, Sovereign Sales and a number of
smaller multiple donations of gifts. "At this time of
year, when materialism is at a heightened level, it's
gratifying to see that our clients are not forgotten — that they, too,
can celebrate the holiday with special gifts and treats; they are being
included in the festivities:'
To help fund the Chanukah packages and regularly distributed
food and household items, mail a tax-deductible contribution to Yad
Ezra, 2850 W. 11 Mile, Berkley, MI 48072, or donate online at:
Yadezra.org. For information on volunteering, sending a tribute or
memorial donation or to become a client, call (248) 548-3663.

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- Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer

December 15 a 2005 11