Family Focus
Be A 'Superhero'
Transforming someone's life
may only take a smile.
Stephanie Schulman
Teen2Teen Staff Writer
A
s little kids, we all want to
become a superhero, or at least
we look up to one. We want to
fly faster than a bullet or lift a train over
our heads while we save the world. When
we get older, we lose that creative sense of
dreaming the impossible.
I did, too. For a while. But for a few
moments every week, I become a superhe-
ro when I walk into Fleischman Residence,
the Jewish home for the aged. All I have to
do is go up to any of the residents who are
sitting in the lobby, heads lowered, weak in
body and spirit, and with a wave, a smile
and a quick "hello," I watch them trans-
form. I feel nothing less than a superhero.
I have the power to bring light to
people's faces. To make their day with one
smile. No cape. No magic powers. Just a
handshake or a smile or a phrase like,
"have a nice day" They illuminate. I have
reached out to them and they feel con-
nected once again.
It started when I was a little kid. I
would go to Fleischman Residence in West
Bloomfield to visit my great-grandmother.
At the time, my dad would "encourage" me
or actually bribe me with bubble gum and
candy to shake hands with the residents.
My brothers and I would have contests
to see who could shake the most hands.
Back then, I didn't realize what a mitzvah I
was doing. How I was making someone so
much happier with such a simple act.
I would quickly learn that the people
that reside at Fleischman and Hechtman
Apartments have always been my best
audience. When I would go there with
my family, we would each take a turn
on the piano, giving concerts to anyone
who wanted to listen. Even now, no mat-
ter how many mistakes I make, or how
many times I have to re-play a certain
part, the song is still beautiful. No matter
how many times I played the same piece
because I didn't know anything else by
heart, they would still tell me it was amaz-
ing, the best they've heard.
With everything I hear about in the
economy and the Middle East, it is easy to
feel that we have little power to change the
world. Yet, despite the fact that my "con-
versations" with the men and women at
Fleischman would consist of no more than
repetitive questions and answers or inqui-
ries about my name or age, the mere fact
that I was talking to them brought a smile.
I am reminded of what our sages taught
in Pirkei Avot (Chapter 4: Verse 20): Rabbi
Masya ben Charash said: "Initiate a greet-
ing to every person." Even those who may
New Board For Tikvah
Nancy Jonas became the new presi-
dent of Tikvah Group of the Greater
Detroit Chapter of Hadassah at its
Installation luncheon on May 22 at the
Cranbrook House in Bloomfield Hills,
followed by guided house tours.
Former Chapter and Tikvah Group
president Judi Schram installed new
board members using a color theme
to match the characteristics of each
portfolio.
Chapter communications and mar- Nancy Jonas, Farmington Hills; Linda Glass
keting vice president Sherrie Stern
and Judi Schram, both of West Bloomfield
recognized the outstanding leadership
of outgoing Tikvah Group president
Greater Detroit chapter's Read, Write, Now!
Linda Glass with the gift of a Pewabic pot-
Partners Tutoring Program.
tery plaque.
Elected to serve one-year terms on the
Glass presented Tikvah Group's commu-
nications chair Barbara Moretsky with the Tikvah Group board are first vice presi-
dent Linda Sherr, programming co-vice
Woman of the Year Award for her "varied
presidents Barbara Charlip and Karen
and impressive list of Hadassah creden-
Pollak, education co-vice presidents
tials." Moretsky also serves as chair of the
Fleischman resident Phyllis Hendrick and great-granddaughter Stephanie Schulman
not seem to hear or remember. For Rabbi
Meir reminds us in Pirkei Avot (Chapter 4,
Verse 27): "Do not look at the vessel, but
what is in it." There is much in the vessel
worth reaching for.
There is a special warmth that is felt,
maybe in part, because I am the person
in their day that is not telling them to get
to dinner, go to their room or remember
to take their medicine. My intentions are
simple and sincere. I am just a person
there to make them happy. It is the eye
contact without any hidden agenda that
makes them illuminate.
It is not just the residents who feel the
warmth. It gives me a great feeling when
I see their face transform into a much-
needed smile, or to see their eyes well up
as we speak.
In the Torah, it says that every individu-
al can fix the world: Tikkun Olam. I believe
that it doesn't matter if you only change
someone's day, or even just that second
for them. You have changed their world
for that second. It doesn't take much, just
a few minutes of my day. I truly feel like a
superhero in just a few minutes.
Far less time than it would take me to
get into the costume. ❑
Shelley Boschan and Ellen Slutsky, com-
munity service co-vice presidents Susan
Belen and Mona Shane, membership
co-vice presidents Vera Gell and Doris
Margolis, fundraising vice president
Susan Bloom, treasurer JoAnne Nosan,
corresponding secretary Donna Phillips,
recording secretary Jackie Michaelson and
immediate past president Linda Glass.
Appointed to serve one-year terms are
member-at-large Brina Drobnis, com-
munications chair Barbara Moretsky, life
membership chair Linda Sherr and tribute
chair Betty Chernoff. Barbara Charlip
organized the nominating committee.
Council of Metropolitan
Detroit on Tuesday, June
23, at 8 a.m. at the Max
M. Fisher Federation
Building, Bloomfield
Township.
Elected Oakland
County prosecutor in
Jessica
November, Cooper is
Cooper
the first woman to hold
that position and the first Democrat to
be elected prosecutor in the county in 30
years. She is a founding member and the
first president of the Michigan chapter of
the American Constitution Society.
"Conversations with Legislators and
Civic Leaders" are designed to provide
opportunities for dialogue between key
decision makers and the Jewish commu-
nity.
Reservations are required. For infor-
mation, contact the Council office, (248)
642-5393.
Challenges Heard
Jessica R. Cooper, the newly elected
Oakland County prosecutor, will discuss
"The Challenges for a New Prosecutor"
at a "Conversations with Legislators and
Civic Leaders" breakfast briefing, spon-
sored by the Jewish Community Relations
Stephanie Schulman, 12, is a seventh-grader at
Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield.
June 2009
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