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12
August 18 2011
Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to the Jewish News
L
Ickboxing
Tae Kwon Do
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Filled with friendship and learning, the
IRP celebrates a silver anniversary.
1693950
arry Ellenbogen was
certain it was going to
be one of those after-
noons.
His next-door-neighbor,
Iry Panush, invited him to
a lecture, "Jewish Thought
Through the Ages:' hosted
John Gardon, Al Ascher, Teviah Estrin and IRP
by the Institute of Retired
President Larry Ellenbogen
Professionals (IRP), a program
of the Jewish Community
bers and 25 different groups. Plus, there
Center of Metropolitan Detroit.
are regular IRP-wide events, such as a
Ellenbogen sighed.
spring mini-series, guest lectures and a
"Really, what can you say at such
retreat to the Butzel Conference Center
moments? 'I'm sorry I can't make it, I
in Ortonville, which Ellenbogen calls
have to wash my hair?' So, to make him
"a three-day camp for seniors." There
feel good, I went:' says Ellenbogen of
is also a newsletter that introduces new
Bloomfield Township.
members, promotes events and reminds
It was a magnificent afternoon.
everyone to keep on with IRP events on
The talk was brilliant. Everyone was
Facebook.
friendly and welcoming. There were
Like Ellenbogen, Bloomfield Township
yummy snacks and good coffee, and it
resident Florence LoPatin came to the
was all fun.
IRP thanks to a friend, and she says,
Four years later, Ellenbogen is presi-
laughing, "Before I knew it, I got hit with
dent of the IRP, which is now marking
being the chair of a committee."
its 25th anniversary. The group will cel-
The IRP groups offer a taste of just
ebrate throughout the year.
about everything, from money manage-
"We learn together, we share life
ment to short stories, medical issues to
experiences, we make new friends:'
Jewish thought, history, science, technol-
Ellenbogen says.
ogy and current events, to name a few.
The IRP's roots were planted in 1985,
And anyone who doesn't see exactly
when then-JCC Executive Director Mort
what he's looking for is welcome to start
Plotnick and former Executive Director
a new group.
Irwin Shaw went in search of a program
"Nothing is off limits," LoPatin says.
for seniors interested in intellectual and
"We'll go anywhere."
social opportunities.
Well, there was that one time when
The idea was to create a self-facilitat-
new members came to their first lecture,
which turned out to be "How To Prepare
ed group — a highly original concept at
a time when most programming was for for Death:' LoPatin says, grimacing.
the people but not by the people.
A Lively Family
To this day, the IRP continues as a
Those looking for an afternoon offering
group supported by the JCC and with
guidance from IRP Executive Director
the excitement afforded by watching
Green Acres re-runs may find themselves
Sharon Levine, but is completely self-
a bit dizzy at IRP events. Debates can
governed.
be heated, and discussions focus on
It was a hit from day one, when more
than 120 people attended the first meet- topics like U.S. immigration laws and
the Christian Identity Movement. Recent
ing.
book
clubs have covered biographies of
Today, the IRP numbers 250 mem-