jews d
in
the
This Yom HaAtzma’ut,
celebrate red, white, and blue.
Call For Honorees!
PHOTO CREDIT
A celebration of the Greatest Generation.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Magen David Adom, Israel’s largest and premier emergency
medical response agency, has been saving lives since
before 1948. And supporters like you provide MDA’s 27,000
paramedics, EMTs, and civilian Life Guardians — more than
90% of them volunteers — with the training, equipment,
and rescue vehicles they need. So as we celebrate Israel’s
independence, make a difference in the health, welfare, and
security of the Israeli people with your gift to MDA.
Please give today.
AFMDA Midwest Region
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Toll-Free 888.674.4871 • midwest@afmda.org
www.afmda.org
30
April 12 • 2018
jn
O
nce a year, some of our local Jewish agencies take
the biblical adage, “You should rise before the elderly
and honor the age” one step further by recognizing
nearly hundreds of individuals 95 years and older at the
annual Bessie Spector Oldest Jewish Americans brunch.
The 17th annual event will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
“Each year as we celebrate National Older Americans
Month, we have the opportunity to honor those eldest in our
community,” said Barbra Giles, executive director of Aging
Services at Jewish Senior Life (JSL). “In keeping with the
Jewish tradition of honoring our mothers and fathers, we
honor those in our community who have reached this mile-
stone.”
The theme of this year’s program, chaired by Rosie
Schlussel and Carol Sofen, is “Celebrating the Greatest
Generation in the ‘D.’’’
“Those we are honoring helped to make our city of Detroit
beautiful,” Giles said. “They contributed to the growth of
Detroit. They remember riding the street car, meeting at the
Kern Clock and going to Central. They made Velvet Peanut
Butter, Vernors and Sanders.”
The event is sponsored by the Bessie
Spector family and community support-
To submit a form for an
ers in partnership with JSL, the Jewish
individual who is age 95 or
Community Center, Jewish Family
older, or for more information
Service, JVS and Jewish Federation — all
on the 11 a.m., Friday, May 18,
provide programs and services for older
Bessie Spector Oldest Jewish
Jewish adults.
Americans brunch, contact
Last year, more than 180 seniors
Beth Tryon at (248) 592-5026
were identified as meeting the age cri-
or btryon@jslmi.org, or access
teria for the heartfelt tribute, including
the honoree form at www.
more than 20 who were 100 years and
jslmi.org.
older. Approximately 65 older adults
Complimentary brunch will
attended the program last year.
be provided for honorees and
“It is our hope that by celebrating
our heritage we will create a beautiful
one guest, with additional
memory for those we honor who are 95
tickets available for purchase.
and older,” Giles said.•
ABOVE:
Last year’s
brunch crowd
enjoys a musical
salute by Shaarey
Zedek’s Hazzan
David Propis.