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Ed Pintzuk, 96, a resident of Meer Apartments, with Meer administrator Marcia
Mittelman, at last year's Oldest Jewish Americans Brunch.
Carol Rosenberg got into the swing of things at last year's brunch.
Roaring Honor
Luncheon will celebrate local seniors, age 95 and beyond.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Contributing Writer
T
he year was 1916, and the young-
est of this year's Oldest Jewish
Americans Brunch honorees had
just been born.
At 11 a.m., Friday, May 6, community
members, ages 95 and older, will be hon-
ored to the theme of "The Roaring '20s"
at the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield. The annual event is coordinat-
ed by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit and sponsored in part by the family
of the late Bessie Spector.
An extensive search for honorees
included outreach letters and requests
for partner agencies, synagogues and
other organizations, both Jewish and non-
Jewish.
"We have identified over 150 eligible
seniors this year," said Shira Shapiro,
senior planning associate of Federation's
Planning and Agency Relations
Department and lead staff person for the
brunch committee. "We expect about 60
to actually attend, but, of course, we'll be
thrilled if that number is higher. In total,
we expect about 220 people, including
honorees, guests and volunteers."
The hope is for new honorees to be
joined by those who have been honored in
the past.
"As soon as they turn 95, they are hon-
orees for life Shapiro said. The guest list
58 April 21
m 2011
includes 28 individuals who are 100 years
old or older.
The brunch is chaired by Carol
Weintraub Fogel of West Bloomfield, who
will also serve as the event's emcee.
"The program is always inspiring," Fogel
said. "Last year a man stood up and sang at
his table. They come from far and near and
are proud to be part of the program."
Honor Upon Honor
"The date of the brunch was planned in
May to coincide with [the Department
of Health and Human Resources
Administration on Aging] Older
Americans Month:' Shapiro said.
Each honoree at the event receives a
certificate of acknowledgement from Gov.
Rick Snyder and has a photo session with
Farmington Hills-based Schare the
Moment photographers.
Given white-glove treatment, honorees
are escorted to their seats by one of more
than 25 volunteers. The brunch committee
includes staff and agency representatives
from Federation, the JCC, Jewish Family
Service, Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan
Detroit Foundation (JSL), JVS and mem-
bers of the community.
Federation CEO Scott Kaufman will
deliver welcoming remarks and Rabbi
Dovid Polter will share a d'var Torah
(words of Torah) with the crowd. The
Meer Choir, comprised of residents of the
Norma Jean and Edward Meer Apartments
in West Bloomfield, will sing the national
anthems of the United States and Israel.
Marlene Nessel of Farmington Hills will
provide piano accompaniment prior to and
during the program as she has for many
years.
The highlight of the event is the recog-
nition of honorees by JSL Director Carol
Rosenberg, who will introduce each hon-
oree, sharing a brief biography, lessons
they have learned about life and the great-
est invention in their lifetime.
The program will be projected onto a
large screen for guests to view and a "live
stream" will enable those not present to
see it from outside the facility.
Corsages, boutonnieres and table cen-
terpieces decorated to fit the Roaring '20s
theme were donated by an anonymous
donor.
Special Tribute
The family of the late
Bessie Spector has been
involved with the brunch
almost since its start.
After seeing how
much Spector enjoyed
the event, various mem-
Bessie
bers have been helping
Spector
to sponsor it annually.
This year's donors are Joan Chernoff-
Epstein, her husband Bob and her sister
Cathy Slavik, all of Bloomfield Hills.
"The first year my grandmother
attended, she was 95," Chernoff-Epstein
said. "The last year she was 102." The
family continued its support after
Spector's death in 2005, with some,
including Chernoff-Epstein, attending
every brunch.
She referred to her grandmother as
one of the "founding treasures" of the
event.
In Michigan, May 8, 2009 was pro-
claimed Bessie Spector Older Jewish
American Day.
"The honorees are all cherished people
in our community," she said. "They have
been vital in the working, volunteering
and parenting worlds and have all made
a difference in many lives. My grand-
mother absolutely felt like this event
was her coming out party; she felt like a
queen. We want to continue to see many
others feel this same joy and nacho." 1 1
For information or to make a
reservation for the 11 a.m. Friday,
May 6, Oldest Jewish Americans
Brunch at the Jewish Community
Center, 6600 W. Maple, West
Bloomfield, call (248) 203-1465.
Cost: $25. RSVP by Friday, April
22. Complimentary valet service.
Complimentary shuttle service will
be provided from the JCC campuses
in Oak Park and West Bloomfield.