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 B23