"The process of
writing down what
I remember is
cathartic."
- Bobbie Alexander
through the struggles and not the money
that mattered:'
Shirley says, "My granddaughter can't
wait to read what I'm writing."
Stirring Up Memories
Although we tend to paint our own ver-
sion of the past, some of the memories
- stirred up by the writers required facing
up to a truth.
"I recalled the problems when my par-
ents went into business with one of their
siblings," says Shirley.
"I try to write only about the good
things that happened," says Bobbie.
Hechtman residents Shirley Keller and Bobbie Alexander (standing); Helen Fink and Lana Kletter (seated); with writing group
"Even so, the process of writing down
facilitator Phyllis Schwartz at far right
what I remember is cathartic:'
Says Helen, "Writing about our fam-
ily has helped me sort out some of the
relationships I had with my four sib-
lings. The problem is when you immerse
yourself in remembering, the memories
come so fast that you can't record them
all, and I get side-tracked. And now I
wish I had asked my grandparents more
questions. Even though my grandmother
lived with my husband and our three
daughters for nine years, I didn't ask the
results when the women remind each
Schwartz of Bloomfield Township, a
Ruthan Brodsky
right questions."
other
of
the
similarities
and
differences
retired
Jewish
Family
Services
social
work-
Special to the Jewish News
Lana explains, "Once I get the story
they experienced as Jewish children and
er who facilitates the group.
written
about my father, I will feel that
young
adults
growing
up
in
Detroit.
"Helping
these
women
honor
their
lives
wo women in the group quickly
a great responsibility has been lifted.
"My father and Shirley's father were
is one way to acknowledge that they've
announce they will bring their
Writing the story has helped me to
both kosher butchers in the 1920s and
been heard and understood, that their
battered high school yearbooks
understand not to hold in my feelings
1930s,"
says
Lana,
81,
whose
life
story
lives
mean
something,
and
that
future
to the next meeting of the Life Study
about the family, but to get them off my
focuses
on
her
father.
"I
was
told
there
generations
will
know
that
they
had
lived
Group at Jewish Senior Life's Hechtman
chest."
were
96
kosher
butchers
at
that
time.
fully:'
Apartments in West Bloomfield. They
One of the more compelling chal-
The
business
must
have
worked
because
The
Hechtman
writing
group
began
had just realized that they both gradu-
lenges
of aging is the quest to find
my
father
made
enough
money
to
bring
six
years
ago
with
six
people
but
came
to
ated from Detroit's Central High School
significance
from years of experience.
his
entire
family
to
the
United
States."
a
screeching
halt
following
the
infamous
back in the 1940s.
Experiences
tend to have little meaning
The
group
is
eager
for
their
families
fire
at
Hechtman
II
in
2008.
Bobbie Alexander, Shirley Keller and
by
themselves
until a person reflects on
to
read
what
they've
written.
They
want
"We
added
the
writing
group
to
our
Lana Kletter started writing their life
them
and
interprets
them.
those
closest
to
them
to
understand
activity
program
this
year
because
we
stories in June as new participants in the
"As
we
watch
people
we love get
their
personal
struggles,
important
suc-
believe
it's
vital
that
residents
can
look
Life Story Group program. Helen Fink
older,
we
realize
that
the
most valuable
cesses
and
to
have
a
better
understand-
back
and
see
how
much
they've
accom-
has been writing her life story off and
commodities
they
can
give
us are their
ing
of
their
family's
history.
plished
during
their
lives,"
says
Naomi
on for the past 12 years.
memories,"
Phyllis
says.
"It
was
always
about
hope
and
encour-
Pinchuk,
JSL
geriatric
social
worker
at
Reminiscing about their pasts,
Younger generations often wonder
agement in our family," says Bobbie.
Hechtman. "These women enjoy getting
the group wants to share the pivotal
about
family members who have passed.
"I
was
taught
to
get
a
good
education
to
know
each
other
in
a
more
meaning-
moments in their lives that they're cap-
and keep smiling to survive," says Helen. Grandchildren are often left asking
ful way through sharing their stories."
turing on paper. These activities are def-
"Life for us was always surrounding our- questions about family members they
Playing Detroit Jewish geography
initely not nostalgia for nostalgia's sake.
never knew. Writing life stories can leave
selves with family"
and
talking
about
former
teachers
and
"We all have a deep human need to
a lasting legacy. II]
Lana
says,
"I
learned
it
was
getting
forgotten
friends
is
but
one
of
the
many
be remembered:' says facilitator Phyllis
Captured On Paper
Seniors write about their lives to pass on meaningful histories.
T
8
October 11 • 2012