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Nutritionally
Speaking

guest column

By Barbara Beznos, RD/LD/N
Integrated Nutrition, LLC

Retracing Jewish Footsteps

A

DEAR
BARB,

I am in my 70's and I am almost sure
I have swallowing problems. It is so
unpleasant. My food and drinks do
not always go down properly. Can
you list some characteristics that may
occur . Treatments and action steps
would help.
~ Thanks Bessie

Dear Bessie,

I will be happy to answer your
questions but it would be important
that you also contact your physician
LI\RXDUHH[SHULHQFLQJGLIÀFXOW\
swallowing and consider getting an
evaluation by a speech pathologist.

So here are some of the
characteristics of swallowing
problems:
Choking or wet gurgling sounds
in your throat
Aspiration without coughing or any
DZDUHQHVVRIGLIÀFXOW\VZDOORZLQJ
Holding foods and liquids longer
in your mouth
Finding that you chew less
Weak cough

What does one do for treatments
if you have Dysphaga?

The main action step is for food and
drink to pass through the mouth and
throat and into the stomach.
‡There are tongue and chewing
exercises
‡You can drink thicker liquids
‡There are cups called "Dysphagia
Cups"designed for those having
GLIÀFXOW\VZDOORZLQJ
‡You can make food softer
‡Try sitting more upright, chin
VOLJKWO\ÁH[HGGRZQ
‡Try not to eat when there are a lot
of distractions around

A Dysphagia diet is one that has
changes of texture of foods and
liquids.You can look for
a store that sells special utensils/
or has rehab supplies.

Contact Barb At:

Integrated Nutrition, L.L.C.

31731 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 105 E
Farmington Hills, Mi 48334

Phone:
(248) 538-8050

E-Mail:
rds@integratednutrition.com
Web:
www.integratednutrition.com

2097210

8 June 9 • 2016

s the first-generation son of a
Holocaust survivor born in hid-
ing, the thought of returning to
Poland, a country rich in ancestral history,
on the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
(FIDF) “From Holocaust to Independence”
mission, both excited and unsettled me.
We landed in Krakow
on Friday afternoon
after a 12-hour trek
from Detroit through
Amsterdam. It was just
enough time to check in
to the hotel, shower and
dress for Shabbat.
Growing up and
Barak Leibovitz
eventually moving out
of my parents’ house, I
found myself celebrating the Sabbath less
and less. When we walked into the dining
hall, I was greeted by smiling Israeli soldiers
in full uniform. Sitting down amidst the
warmth of others with the familiar sounds
and tastes of my childhood memories, I felt
comforted. My two brothers, my father and
I were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and
energy from all of the delegates and soldiers
who joined us.
During our time in Poland, we witnessed
and shared many incredibly emotional
experiences. Marching through the death

camps with survivors, liberators and Israeli
soldiers highlighted the significant role
we must play to ensure that the world will
never see this type of persecution again.
We cried tears of joy for those who beat the
odds — and felt anger when we thought
of those who were less fortunate. It was,
indeed, an emotional roller coaster.
When we left Poland, we did so under
the supervision of the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) — flying in a cargo jet reconfigured
with passenger seats. If you thought we’d
catch some sleep to make up for the long
days of our daily packed itinerary, you
thought wrong. Soldiers equipped with gui-
tars and microphones served as the in-flight
entertainment along with a rabbi officiat-
ing on behalf of a soldier becoming a bar
mitzvah. I’ve been to many bar mitzvahs
before, but none of them had been held at
45,000 feet.
As we landed in Israel, the group erupted
with cheers. People began kissing the
ground and dancing on the tarmac. What
an incredible passage from the horrors of
Poland to the sovereign State of Israel.
This journey truly puts into perspective
how we as Jewish people have been able to
not only survive, but also thrive in the short
amount of time after so much devastation
and loss — truly a miracle in my eyes.

In Israel, we toured IDF facilities and
bases, honored the fallen on Yom Hazikaron
by participating in memorial ceremonies
and celebrated Israel’s Independence Day.
We even got a chance to listen to Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak
at the residence of Israel’s President Reuven
Rivlin, before snagging a quick picture with
them to capture the moment. It was a whirl-
wind of a trip.
After only nine days, we were exhausted
— emotionally and physically — but our
mission continued. Although our program
had concluded, we walked away from this
experience with a profound sense of appre-
ciation for Israel and the important obliga-
tions we must fulfill as American Jews.
It’s our duty to continue to support Israel,
educate others and help combat anti-Semi-
tism in our own communities. The margin
of error is too slim and the cost of being
complacent or ungrateful too grave. It’s easy
to forget or take for granted the liberties we
enjoy today but we must always remember
those who sacrificed and continue to sac-
rifice everything to protect our freedom,
Jewish homeland and future — the soldiers
of Israel.

*

Barak Leibovitz is an entrepreneur
from West Bloomfield.

editorial

A Center That’s Rich In Soul

F

riendship Circle of Michigan’s new
Farber Soul Center is a testimonial
to how Jewish Detroit has never
stopped embracing people with special
needs, even as communal challenges have
intensified.
Farber Soul Center officially opened
Sunday at Walnut Lake and Drake roads in
West Bloomfield. It seeks to serve young
adults who have navigated Friendship
Circle’s programming for youth with special
needs, but now need something more: the
skills, confidence and support to make it on
their own.
This 18,000-square-foot wellspring of
artistic self-expression, vocational training
and job placement is nurtured by commu-
nitywide love and compassion for a group
that could easily fall through the communal
cracks.
It’s another example of our Jewish com-
munity’s professional, lay and philanthropic
leaders, backed by a corps of volunteers,
teaming up to identifying a pressing need
and addressing it, in this case within three
years from idea to fruition.

THE FIRST STAKE
It helped that William and Audrey Farber
of West Bloomfield were impressed by

Friendship Circle’s grand vision for a place
for young adults with special needs to
develop artistic and vocational skills around
their natural talents. The Farbers, through
their foundation, stepped up with a $2.1
million matching pledge that validated the
vision and gave it the impetus to draw other
significant donors.
Farber Soul Center includes the Dresner
Foundation Soul Studio for artists, an art
gallery sponsored in memory of Burt and
Geri Rissman, and the Soul Cafe run by
Epic Kosher Catering’s Milk & Honey.
Through Farber Soul Center, young
adults with special needs not only can learn
how to become expressive artists in a vari-
ety of media, but also how to exhibit and
sell their wares for a share of the proceeds
as well as discover how a restaurant oper-
ates, from workplace protocols to peeling
potatoes.
The restaurant component gives Farber
Soul Center uniqueness among other
nationwide studios that enable budding
artists with special needs to create, display
and market.
Anchored by the William and Audrey
Farber Foundation pledge, the Farber Soul
Center campaign is more than 85 percent
to its $5.5 million campaign goal. The

Dresner Foundation, in memory of Vera
and Joseph Dresner, funded the art studio
bearing its name. Smaller donations have
helped furnish the art studio and are always
welcomed (“Soul Satisfaction,” May 19,
page 10).

THE WAY FORWARD
For 20 years, Friendship Circle has reached
out inclusively to children with special
needs. In its appeal for Farber Soul Center,
Friendship Circle, a nonprofit affiliate of
Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, talks about
helping uncover the talents and stirring the
soul of each participant. The hope is to give
young adults with special needs “the oppor-
tunity to be active, productive and, most
importantly, included members of society.”
Time will determine the scope and suc-
cess of that opportunity.
Still, early signs point to Farber Soul
Center earning a seat at the national table
of innovative outreach projects designed
exclusively for young adults with special
needs.
In that quest, Friendship Circle must
strive to assure Farber Soul Center stays
on course as an inspired fusion of artistic,
vocational and social experiences once the
euphoria surrounding its opening fades.

*