Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit

SAVE THE DATE!
SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

metro

EIGHT

EIGHTY

Campaign Kickoff

11111 The Tikkun Olam Award

NOMINATE - DON'T BE IATE!

WHAT:

Federation leaders hear how funds
raised locally help Jews globally.

Eight Over Eighty — The Tikkun Olam Award

Eight Over Eighty is an annual event where Jewish Senior Life
of Metropolitan Detroit honors eight senior adults, eighty
years or older, who have dedicated their time, talents and lives
to our community.

WHY
WHEN:
WHERE:

Stacy Gittleman
I Contributing Writer

To recognize eight senior adults for their lifetime achievements

Sunday, May

3, 2015, LUNCHEON 11:30 AM (Dietary laws observed)

T

Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills

Nominations are due by January 12, 2015

How to Nominate:

Do you know
a deserving
older adult who...

Write or email JSL describing the
worthiness of the nominee.
Please include (as applicable):
• Name, age and telephone number
of nominee and telephone number
of the nominator
• Years of volunteer service
• Involvement in Jewish organizations
and causes
• Leadership positions held
• Current accomplishments
• Letters and newspaper articles
supporting nominee's
accomplishments
• Explain how the nominee's long-
standing activities exemplify a
commitment to the Jewish value of
Tikkun Olam (Repairing The World)

• Is at least 80 years old?

• Has been a long-standing
volunteer in the community?

• Is active or volunteering today?

• Is dedicated to maintaining
strong Jewish values?

• Is an inspiring leader or mentor
in the community?

Honorees will be recognized at a
community luncheon held May 3rd
during Older American's Month

Proceeds will benefit:

The JSL Kosher Meal Program

Mail or email nominations to

Eight Over Eighty
Jewish Senior Life of Metro Detroit
15000 W. Ten Mile
Oak Park, MI 48237
Attn: Michelle Buda
mbuda@jslmi.org
(248) 592-1101

Or nominate on-line at
www.jslmi.org

JEWISH SENIOR LIFE

Health & Wellness
Meal Preparation
Transportation
Companionship

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Visit theJEWISHNEWS.com

22

I

For complete services,
call or visit our website

November 27 • 2014

IN

he Jewish Community
Federation of Greater Detroit
kicked off its 2015 campaign
Nov. 3 as 200 leaders of every Jewish
beneficiary and partnering agency
in Detroit gathered at Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington Hills and
made gifts totaling $142,000.
They were inspired by Jewish leader
Alina Gerlovin Spaulding telling her
life story, one she describes as "a
miracle" because of the work and the
dollars raised from the global Jewish
community.
Spaulding, born in the Ukraine in
the former Soviet Union, told the story
of her family's struggles: from Jews
living in the former Soviet Union, to
new immigrants to the United States
adjusting to a new culture, to becom-
ing successful members of American
society.
Now head of school at the Akiva Day
School in Nashville and the adoptive
mother of two grown daughters from
Moldova, Spaulding travels the country
to talk to Jewish community leaders
and to encourage others to continue
making these miracles happen through
their donations.
She was born into a relatively
charmed life in the former Soviet
Union compared to other Jews in the
1970s. Her father was an Olympic
hopeful for the country's ski team.
However, their family status quickly
fell when, in 1974, her father severely
broke his leg in a skiing accident.
"No sooner did my father break his
leg at the top of a mountain and was
brought to the bottom of the mountain,
did we get ousted from our apart-
ment:' she said. "The conditions of our
lives plummeted because we suddenly
became 'just Jews' and were no longer
useful to the country:'
Her father's broken leg went
untreated for so long that he developed
hepatitis and a heart condition. It
threatened his life to the point that, at
29, Spaulding's mother was prepared to
become a widow.
Rather than receiving immediate
treatment, Spaulding's father waited for
eight days in a Jewish ghetto clinic for
minimal treatment, and then another
eight months for her mother to collect
the necessary medical supplies on the

Aline Gerlovin Spaulding

black market for additional proce-
dures. By that time, his health severely
declined.
Spaulding went on to tell the audi-
ence that the generosity and the pres-
ence of agencies such as the Jewish
Federation and the partnering Joint
Distribution Committee saved her life
and the lives of her parents.
Because of efforts of the global
Jewish community, her family was able
to make the journey to freedom and
success in America.

Centennial Fund

On a local scale, Federation President
Larry Wolfe said that the Federation's
Centennial Fund Campaign is $120
million into its ultimate goal of raising
$250 million. Stressing the three main
elements necessary for strengthening
Jewish identity — education, Jewish
camping and missions to Israel —
the Centennial Fund is the primary
endowment fund that will ensure the
continuing future of Detroit's Jewish
community.
Wolfe emphasized the importance
of the Federation's continuing work to
strengthen efforts with local partnering
Jewish agencies and synagogues across
Metro Detroit to increase engagement
in Jewish life among the area's 65,000
Jews.
According to Wolfe, about 20 percent
of this number are actively engaged in
Jewish life, and outreach is essential.
"By working together and showing
responsibility to each other through
effective communication and business
practices, we are here to show the com-
munity that we are here for good, and
we are here to do good," Wolfe said.
"And it all starts and ends with the
Jewish Federation:' ❑

