100%

Scanned image of the page. Keyboard directions: use + to zoom in, - to zoom out, arrow keys to pan inside the viewer.

Page Options

Share

Something wrong?

Something wrong with this page? Report problem.

Rights / Permissions

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials may be under copyright. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact the Bentley Historical Library at bentley.ref@umich.edu

March 06, 2014 - Image 26

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 2014-03-06

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

Adat Shalom Plans
Purim Festivities
Adat Shalom Synagogue clergy and members
will join in community-wide Erev Purim
services at Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, March 15.
Costumes are encouraged.
On Sunday, March 16, there will be a morning
Megillah reading at 8:30 a.m. at Adat Shalom in
Farmington Hills. Youth festivities will begin at 11
a.m. with "Shushan Has Talent" — an Adat Shalom
Megillah Mania production. There is no charge.
From noon-2 p.m., kids of all ages are invited
to a free mega-carnival with entertainment
and dance party with music by Joe Cornell
Entertainment. There will be games, bouncers,
Miniature Motorways and more. Lunch will be
available for purchase at the carnival.
For information, call (248) 851-5100.

Evelyn Kreger and Tom Hitchman lift weights as part of the Memory Club curriculum. Physical activity boosts
oxygen flow to the brain, helps fuel memory.

Fighting Forgetfulness

JVS club boosts brainpower.

Marla Janness
Special to the Jewish News

W

e've all been there: forgetting where you parked
the car, misplacing your keys, blanking on a
word.
While these types of occasional memory lapses are a
common concern, older adults worry about memory loss.
The good news is forgetfulness is not an inevitable part of
the aging process.
"It may be more difficult for us to learn new things or
recall information as we age explains Ronnie Berman,
coordinator of the JVS Memory Club. "However, the brain
is capable of producing new brain cells at any age, and there
are a lot of things older adults can do to keep their minds
sharp and improve memory skills."
The JVS Memory Club is a unique program that provides
active seniors with tools to fight off forgetfulness. The club
offers weekly sessions that meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Tuesdays and Thursdays at the JVS Rose and Sidney Diem
Building in Southfield. Thanks to a grant from the Jewish
Fund, a Monday session was recently added at the Eugene
and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus in West
Bloomfield.
Evelyn and David Kreger began attending Memory Club
at JVS several years ago. David, a retired hospital adminis-
trator, was in his late 70s and had begun to worry about his
memory lapses. Evelyn saw a Memory Club flyer, and the
couple decided to join the club. Together, they attended for
two years before David passed away in 2011.
"I first came mainly for him:' Evelyn says. "But I've con-
tinued because I enjoy the people very much. It's a very wel-
coming group and has become an extended family.
"I also like the exercises:' she adds. "I can feel my brain
working:'

Exercises For The Brain

In a living room-like setting, Memory Club members prac-
tice mental exercises to stimulate their brain and boost
their memory. They play memory-enhancing games like
Scattergories, Boggle and Scrabble, and do brainteasers and
puzzles to enhance their word skills, critical thinking, mem-
ory and visual perception. Participants keep a notebook filled
with additional activities to complete at home.
"A strong body equals a strong mind, so physical exer-
cise, including yoga, is another important element of our
program:' Berman explains. "We also enjoy great conver-
sations. We talk during lunch about our families, current
events and favorite memories. We take occasional field trips

26

March 6 • 2014

0/4-

Fe.b•

7 11 me

Mtfe

- roda .4 Word Is

+or
C ole Yh 1 .5 con c ept ion
cot
-time
co nce
Spites pof
+OP
?owe.
owe_
Snipe._
VM of e- tin

'21 P

Si?

St-on *."
TtvlSioo

„1 ",e til- hoticso

rP

none c

by

cort

covve..

'c'"nc:
t
(pension

h

piKts

pin

pone,

~in~

nine-
sine,
not

Ronnie Berman, JVS Memory Club coordinator,
works with members to identify words derived from
letters of the word "misconception."

and discuss what we've seen and learned. Social interaction
is an excellent way to stimulate the brain:'
Now at age 78, Evelyn notices she forgets things occasion-
ally, but Memory Club has strengthened her ability to recall
information and inspired her to stay involved in other activi-
ties. She attends a book club and takes classes through the
Society of Active Retirees (SOAR). A member of Birmingham
Temple, she helps with community outreach initiatives, knit-
ting hats, mittens and scarves for Alternatives for Girls and
packing lunches for the hungry. She may even start writing
her memoirs, she says, to preserve treasured family memo-
ries for her four grandchildren.
"Members enroll because they want to improve their
memory:' Berman explains. "Most Memory Club partici-
pants live independently and drive themselves to the meet-
ings. They come because they want to stay sharp:'
Berman teaches participants proven techniques to help
them remember, such as chunking (grouping things by
common features), repeating new information and using
several of their sensory channels. Members also get practi-
cal tips, such as keeping important items like their keys,
wallet or purse in the same spot. Trying all these techniques
helps club members discover which approaches work best
for them so they can develop a system to attain their own
peak performance.
For more information about the Memory Club, contact
Ronnie Berman at (248) 233-4247 or rberman@jvsdet.org
or visit www.jvsdet.org/memoryclub. ❑

Marla Janness is a PR/communications associate with JVS.

Learn About Summer Service
Opportunities For Teens
An informational meeting for summer programs
sponsored by the American Jewish Society
for Service (AJSS) will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 12, at the West Bloomfield
home of 2013 alumna Lily Grier. An AJSS rep-
resentative, along with past participants, will
present information and answer questions about
three- and six-week Summer of Service pro-
grams available for 2014.
Locations for this year include Memphis,
Louisville and Oklahoma City. Teens will work
closely together in small, supervised groups to
roll up their sleeves and address tangible social
challenges, engage with communities different
from their own, learn new skills, and gain confi-
dence and independence.
The AJSS model of direct social service jus-
tice work allows participants to experience the
results of their service by standing arm-in-arm
with the future owners of the homes they build
together and sharing their joy at finally having a
place to call home.
For more information or directions to the
March 12 meeting, contact AJSS at (301) 664-
6400, or email apply@ajss.org for event details,
or visit ajss.org to learn more.

Mother's Day Donations
For The Joy Project
There are many ways to honor mothers on
Mother's Day, but giving a gift that will make a
difference in the lives of women and children in
the community can be among the best.
The Joy Project supports women in need
through Jewish Family Service. It allows one to
honor and pay tribute to a woman one loves this
Mother's Day by making a donation that sup-
ports women in need.
The women honored will get a card notifying
them of the donation, and the mothers helped
will receive a gift from the sponsor, Marlee's by
Tapper's.
With donors' support, JFS provides criti-
cal services to women such as crisis support,
emergency assistance, counseling and domestic
violence intervention.
The Joy Project was created by Elanah
Nachman Hunger in 2010 in honor of her
mother, Joy Nachman. Since the project was
launched, its scope and impact have grown year
after year.
Mother's Day is May 11. To give a gift in
tribute, contact (248) 592-2673 or joyproject@
jfsdetroit.org , or visit jfsjoyproject.org.

Back to Top

© 2024 Regents of the University of Michigan