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.