rosh hashanah
A
Jewish
Home
JERRY ZOLYNSKY
JSL brings Jewish life to seniors
at non-Jewish facilities.
ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
W
hen choosing a
residence for their
golden years, many
Jewish seniors prefer a Jewish
Senior Life (JSL) facility.
JSL is the communal agency
serving the local Jewish senior
population. Independent
apartments and assisted living
facilities under the JSL auspices
are on the Eugene & Marcia
Applebaum Jewish Community
Campus in West Bloomfield
and A. Alfred Taubman Jewish
Community Campus in Oak
Park.
A Jewish way of living pre-
vails on both campuses with
kosher meals and observance
of Jewish holidays. Residents
experience Jewish-style enter-
tainment and culture.
But what about other elderly
Jews in Metro Detroit? Those
not residing in “Jewish” facili-
ties, for a variety of reasons,
still may want to feel part of
the Jewish community.
They are not forgotten.
The 20-year-old Jewish
Community Chaplaincy and
Outreach Program of Jewish
Senior Life is familiar to senior
facilities throughout the tri-
26
September 21 • 2017
county area.
The program brings “a little
‘Yiddishkeit’ to older Jewish
adults living outside of JSL resi-
dential communities,” said Fran
Victor, JSL chief development
officer.
As people age, “their connec-
tion to faith and tradition often
grows stronger,” Victor said. The
chaplaincy program “touches
deep roots in the hearts of older
adults in the Jewish community,
bringing them comfort and sol-
ace in their later years.”
According to Victor, JSL
Community Chaplain Rabbi
Dovid Polter and Community
Outreach Coordinator Joanne
Kristal made 1,333 visits last
year, reaching 3,521 individuals
(including those at group pro-
grams).
Polter, assisted by a cadre of
JSL volunteer “parachaplains,”
performed a total of 259 reli-
gious services last year.
Kristal’s work takes several
forms.
“There are many seniors
who do not have many family
or friends, so I try and find a
friendly visitor for them,” she
said. “I have a couple of singing
jn
of The Shul in West
groups/volunteers,
ABOVE:
Rabbi Dovid Polter
Bloomfield leads a
and we go into facili-
ties that have Jewish hands out information Torah class and blows
regarding the High
the shofar during Rosh
residents and have
Holidays. Resident Al Hashanah.
sing-alongs.”
Zack smiles as Evelyn
“She’s coming to
Additionally,
Burton looks the
bring a sukkah on
Kristal helps facilitate
material over.
wheels during the
the delivery of more
holiday,” Vellozzo said.
than 450 parcels to
“Residents will go outside to
elderly seniors just before the
visit the sukkah truck.”
Jewish New Year.
Kosher food from the Soul
JSL’s travels to non-Jewish
Café in West Bloomfield satisfies
nursing homes, senior homes
observant All Seasons residents.
and assisted-living facilities
Polter and parachaplains
can range from 45 minutes to
conduct monthly discussions
Romeo, to just five minutes
about events and holidays at
away to All Seasons of West
The Park at Trowbridge in
Bloomfield.
Southfield. Rochelle Upfal is
Polter leads monthly pro-
the senior community’s execu-
grams at All Seasons, a non-
tive director.
denominational, indepen-
“Local Jewish day school stu-
dent senior living apartment
dents visit to celebrate the holi-
community. On Aug. 28, he
days,” Upfal said. “All residents
discussed “The Vital Role of
participated in a beautiful
Symbolism Celebrated on the
mock seder at Passover.”
Jewish High Holidays.”
Matzah ball soup on Fridays
“His lectures are well-loved
is typical at Trowbridge, and
by the Jewish and non-Jewish
kosher food is arranged upon
residents,” said Tamara
Vellozzo, All Seasons director of request. Residents enjoy
concerts at Congregation
life enrichment.
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield
Rabbi Joseph Krakoff will be
and Temple Israel in West
speaking at All Seasons about
Bloomfield, while the in-house
Yom Kippur. Itty Shemtov
entertainment might include
Ben Opengeym, playing key-
board and accordion.
“Latkes are served four times
during the month; challah
and wine are on Fridays, and
beef brisket is served mul-
tiple times each month,” said
Megan Merza, executive direc-
tor at American House West
Bloomfield.
The residents have vis-
ited the Holocaust Memorial
Center. They recently played
trivia and other games with
Hadassah volunteers.
Polter leads religious services
twice a month at American
House. A pre-Sukkot celebra-
tion will happen Oct. 4.
The rabbi puts up a mezuzah
on the doorways of new Jewish
residents as a welcome gift.
Merza praised Kristal for
bringing volunteers to meet with
Jewish residents one on one.
The impact of Jewish out-
reach is clear in a comment
JSL received from “Jim” about
Polter: “As I lie in my hospital
bed, I want you to know how
much you mean to me.” •