Editor's Letter
Elevating Senior Life
llon't Miss
These JARC 40th
Anniversary
Events!
10.17.09
lR
I
a seamless transition for 230 staff and 600 volunteers.
t's the beginning of an exciting journey to improve the
I liked how Kamin, who led so gallantly during the April
way we as a Jewish community deliver services and pro-
2008 fire at Hechtman Jewish Apartments, framed "whole-
grams for older adults — one of our great assets. Their
person wellness" as a JSL theme. "At JSL," she said, "we know
collective need is one of our community's core pillars.
that in the finals stages of life, our elders need to be treated
That's how the first president of the new Jewish Senior Life
of Metropolitan Detroit (JSL) summed with utmost dignity, encouraging them all to remain as active
up his assignment. And I applaud Fred as possible."
Rosenberg, for 30 years a superior eldercare champion,
Blechman for recognizing that we're
reminded that we're America's second-oldest Jewish area next
nothing as a community without the
to Florida's retirement communities, yet we still boast rich
wisdom, guidance and love of our
veins of programming, support services and funding partners
seniors, who make up 25 percent of
against the backdrop of steadily growing needs.
Jewish Detroit.
The excitement of the evening event now must translate
JSL's roots go back more than 140
into streamlined and upgraded services for our seniors.
years. It represents the merger of
We must turn the inspired talk into positive practice. With
Jewish Home & Aging Services and
support not only from the two executive directors, but also
Jewish Apartments & Services. The
the two outgoing presidents, Mark Kowalsky of JHAS and
merger was announced last year, but
Laurence Tisdale of JAS, Blechman can tap into plenty of
became official on June 17 at the his-
brainpower.
toric first meeting of the new super
The prospect of less-fragmented services and programs
agency. JSL is based at the David & Miriam Mondry Building
should not be underestimated. Setting the bar high for senior
in Oak Park.
outreach is hard enough; having one oversight agency simpli-
"I undertake this appointment with my pledge to work to
fies the process.
ensure that we establish a strong and viable agency, fulfilling
the mission of managing and providing the broadest range
Gaining Momentum
of elderly services — drawing on the vast resources of our
The JHAS-JAS merger took two years. It emerged from a rec-
community — with efficiency, creativity and sensitivity','
Blechman said before a crowd of 250 people in the dining hall ommendation of Federation's Eldercare Services Visioning
Committee chaired by Robert Naftaly and
at Meer Jewish Apartments on the Eugene
Alan Nachman. The committee understood
and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community
the urgent need to embrace our seniors and
Campus in West Bloomfield.
lift the quality of their care. The merger
His message echoed throughout the packed
initiative underlined that we as a commu-
hall, but only time will tell how successful we
nity understood that older adults were to be
are in fulfilling the challenge that he posed.
revered, not allowed to wither.
Blechman, a selfless communal leader,
The idea of a merger was first broached 33
said all the right things in his impassioned
years ago. It took all this time to consider the
address touting JSL's action blueprint, which
potential of a central agency to coordinate
was developed by a committed team of lay
and expand our senior service system. I'm
leaders, professionals and volunteers. Jewish
sure politics played a part; giving up control
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit help at
isn't easy. It helped, of course, that both JHAS
every level proved integral in the merger as
and JAS were well run. You need the right
did counsel from three key affiliated agen-
leadership and the right opportunity to create
cies falling partially under the JSL umbrella:
and execute economies of scale via merged
Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Community JSL's Fred Ble chman
(and well-pruned) services.
Center and JVS. Further, the past boards and
Blechman boasts all the credentials you'd want in a char-
officers of JHAS and JAS facilitated the merger. JSL is now
ter president. He got involved in eldercare services through
Detroit Jewry's central address for aging support services;
his mother, who had
with that comes
Alzheimer's.
ultimate account-
"As my sisters and
ability.
I
looked
for care
Let there be no
options,
we
turned to
doubt: The human
the
Dorothy
and Peter
linchpins for the
Brown
Adult
Day Care
coming together
Center,
one
of
the gems
of this $18 mil-
in
our
community:'
lion venture were
Blechman recalled in his remarks. "As I witnessed the won-
Executive Directors Carol Rosenberg of JHAS and Marsha
derful work being done at the facilities in Southfield and West
Goldsmith Kamin of JAS, communal stars in their own right.
Bloomfield, I was so touched I realized I needed to be a part
They avoided turf wars and brought invaluable perspective.
And their June 17 remarks around the theme "Honoring Our
Senior Life on page A6
Past, Building Our Future" underscored their commitment to
The merger initiative underlined that we as
a community understood that older adults
were to be revered, not allowed to wither.
SOMERSET
COLLECTION
PARTY LIKE IT'S 1969!
Celebrate Somerset South &
JARC's 40th Anniversary!
• Dance at 'Club Somerset A-Go-Go'
• Shop Select Stores
(% of sales to benefit JARC)
• Food, Martinis and Morel
• Tickets $58
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
AT www.jarg.org
tu es da m
10.Z7.09
"An Die of a Show"
-Time Magazine
JARC's
29th Ann
Fall
Fundraiser
7:30 PM
Fisher Theatre
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE
BEGINNING AUGUST 17
www.jarg.org
30301 Northwestern! Suite 100
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248.538.6611 vitty I Fax: 248.538.6615
E-mail: jarc@jarc.org
July 2 • 2009
A5