Jews in the D
20 | MAY 28 • 2020
The
Greatest
Generation
Special mailing will honor oldest
Jewish Americans.
BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
T
hey represent the
“greatest generation” of
Americans, who lived
through the Great Depression,
World War II (including some
who survived the Holocaust),
the Civil Rights era, the
Vietnam War and the Great
Recession.
They are not about to be
held back by COVID-19, even
though the way we honor
them has to change.
For the first time in 19
years, the annual Bessie
Spector Oldest Jewish
Americans Brunch will take
place in spirit rather than in
person. This year, Detroit’
s
most senior Jewish citizens
will receive a special tribute
package by mail.
“We always give out
certificates signed by the
governor,” said Leslie Katz,
director of Friends of Jewish
Senior Life, which coordi-
nates the event with JVS,
Jewish Family Service, the
Jewish Community Center
and the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
This year, she said, the
group will mail the certifi-
cates, along with a customized
letter, a list of seniors being
honored, a large-print jumbo
word-search book — and a
copy of this article.
Katz and her committee,
headed by Julie Zussman
of Huntington Woods and
Sharon Alterman of West
Bloomfield, have about 120
people on their list, but they
are eager to hear about oth-
ers who should be included.
The only criteria are to be 95
or older by the end of 2020,
Jewish and live in the greater
Detroit area.
The annual program
started in 2001 when the
now-defunct Coalition on
Jewish Eldercare Services
invited people over 90 to a
luncheon in May, which is
Older Americans Month.
They urged attendees to bring
friends and family as well.
That first brunch was an
intimate event for about 20
honorees, held at Fleischman
Residence.
Word got out. In subse-
quent years, so many seniors
wanted to attend — and so
many friends and family
wanted to join them — that
the event was moved to the
TOP: The late Louis Berlin at last year’
s brunch. ABOVE: Marcia and Lucille, two
life-long friends who have attended the brunch for many years, both turned 100
this year and planned to attend together. This photo is from Marcia’
s 99th birthday
party.
COURTESY OF JSL