Time to 
Kvell!

G

randkids and grandparents are good for 
each other, according to several studies. 
For kids, grandparents provide stability, 
safety, wisdom and fun. For the grandparents, 
caring for grandchildren can help stave 
off depression, boost social connections 
and keep them mentally sharp. 
This year, Grandparents Day is Sunday, 
Sept. 8. The holiday, established in 1978, 
honors the special relationship between 
grandparents and grandchildren. To celebrate, 
the JN invited readers to share favorite photos of 
the favorite kids in their lives. 

jews d
in 
the

12 September 5 • 2019
jn

Grandparents share the lights 
of their lives with JN readers.

Judy Robinson of West Bloomfield kvells about her grandchil-
dren Thea, 2, of Los Angeles, shown here “ready for school;”-
Max, 4, of San Francisco, who is “pure joy;” and Ruby, 1, also of 
San Francisco, who “loves to eat.” 

Rick and Ronda Lepsetz from Southfield with Dylan Gabe, 2, Sammie Gabe, 5, 
Emma Gabe, 2, all from Montreal, Canada. “The twins are just learning to talk. 
Right now, Ronda and I are both called ‘
Gabba’
,” says Rick.

Eileen Polk of Huntington 
Woods says, “The Fourth 
of July is always a special 
time for the cousins to get 
together. This year they 
were excited to meet the 
newest one, Sophia Gloria!” 
Eileen’
s grandchildren are 
Josie Polk, 5, from Dayton, 
Ohio; Jack Polk, 3, from 
Brookline, Mass.; Evie Polk, 
8, from Dayton; Hannah 
Polk, 6, from Brookline; and 
Sophia Bobrow, 3 weeks, 
from Franklin.

Grandparents Larry and Lisa Kaplan of Farmington Hills say of 
their granddaughter Sonia Devorah Avshalumov, 15 months, of 
Birmingham: “Our Sonia is destined to be a space planner or 
a moving man (woman). Invite her to your home and she will 
rearrange your furniture all over the house, at top speed. She’
s 
hilarious!”

Janis and Steve Gorelick of Waterford are the proud Nana and 
Papa of Cooper Hutson, 3, of Birmingham. 

“This is my grandson, Sawyer Bennett, 2½, of Huntington Woods, 
cruisin’
 in his mini-Mini. The sweetest sound in the world is to 
hear him say, ‘
I love you, Bubbie!’
” says Yona Kahn of 
Huntington Woods.
Barbara and Sanford Szirtes 
of Farmington Hills are proud 
Bubbie and Zaydie to Evelyn 
(Evie) Szirtes, 7, and Winifred 
(Winnie) Szirtes, 4, of Pleasant 
Ridge. They share this funny 
story: “When Winnie was about 
2½ years old, she was wearing 
an amulet necklace similar to 
the necklace worn by Anna in 
the movie Frozen. It had a large 
stone and Winnie displayed it 
proudly to Bubbie and Zaydie. 
Then, Winnie’
s older sister, Evie 
(5 years old at the time), spoke 
up and said, ‘
Bubbie, you know 
that it’
s not real’
.”

continued on page 14