Survivor P4"
rogram Honored
"My daughter and grandchildren
love coming to Fox Run.
They're always asking
when they can visit."
Cantors performing together: Pamela Schiffer, Penny Steyer, David Propis,
Daniel Gross, Samuel Greenbaum and Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo.
4
JSL's Cafe Europa creates a close
community for Holocaust survivors.
Karen Rosenberg
Special to the Jewish News
0
n a cold Monday after-
noon, warmth could be felt
among the attendees of Cafe
Europa, a group that meets monthly
at the Jimmy Prentis Morris Jewish
Community Center in Oak Park to
enjoy Jewish music and a nosh.
Sponsored by Jewish Senior Life's
Program for Holocaust Survivors and
Families, Cafe Europa provides a fes-
tive, freilich atmosphere where survi-
vors can connect. Attracting between
40-60 survivors each month, some
participants come via bus from the
West Bloomfield JSL campus.
The recent Cafe Europa program
featured a special Cantorial Concert in
partnership with the Michigan Board of
Cantors. This was the fourth year that
cantors from across the local Jewish
community came together to perform
individually and together as a group.
Performers included Samuel
Greenbaum of Congregation Beth
Shalom, Daniel Gross of Adat Shalom
Synagogue, Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo
of Beth Shalom, David Propis of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Pamela
Schiffer of East Lansing's Congregation
Shaarey Zedek and Penny Steyer of
Temple Shir Shalom. All were accom-
panied by pianist Cliff Monear. They
sang a variety of Jewish songs, provid-
ing a brief background of each piece.
Throughout the event, the audience
sang along, clapped, held hands and
some even danced. At the conclu-
sion of "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav"
(Jerusalem of Gold) attendees imme-
diately jumped to their feet to give a
standing ovation.
Ida Steuer, a survivor who comes to
Cafe Europa monthly, was mesmerized
by the beautiful music.
"This is a wonderful program in
the way that we maintain a sense of
community among survivors and their
families:' says Charles Silow, Ph.D.,
director of the Program for Holocaust
Attendees Sabina Heller and Lester
Zeff connect during a break in the
music at Cafe Europa. Program dir-
ector Charles Silow is on the right.
Survivors and Families. A child of
survivors and fluent in Yiddish, Silow
is accepted by the survivor community
as someone who understands what
they have suffered and how it contin-
ues to affect them.
The Program for Holocaust
Survivors and Families recently
received a Jewish Programming Award
from the Association of Jewish Aging
Services (AJAS) in recognition of its
psychosocial programs for Holocaust
survivors.
"We were so proud to be recognized
nationally for this unique program as
it really serves a need and maintains
our goal of building community," says
Renee Fein, program coordinator for
the JSL Foundation, which supports
the program.
While many cities host events for
Holocaust survivors, the award from
AJAS recognizes the weekly support
groups, monthly Cafe Europa pro-
grams and multiple enrichments, and
the Portraits of Honor throughout the
year. She says the success of the pro-
gram is due to the collaborative efforts
of staff, lay leaders and volunteers.
i Ilk
az IN is
—Phyllis Pazner, Fox Run resident, pictured with daughter Sher
Fox Run in Oakland County is a great choice for retirees
who want to enjoy an active, secure lifestyle. Dining,
maintenance and 24-hour security are all handled by our
expert full-time staff. We even offer on-site medical services,
plus continuing care if your health needs ever change.
A move here is the greatest gift you can give yourself—
and the ones you love.
Learn more about Fox Run's unique
approach to health and wellness.
Call 1-800-220-1318
today for your free brochure.
Fox Run
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Add more Living to your Life®
Novi
Karen Rosenberg is creative producer
for Your People LLC, a Southfield public
relations firm.
EricksonLiving.com
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February 6 • 2014
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