20 | MAY 6 • 2021
B
e it in-person or virtually, honoring
senior members of our Jewish com-
munity is what the annual Bessie
Spector Oldest Jewish Americans Brunch
is all about. This year, like in those preced-
ing it, the more the merrier, with individ-
uals 95 or older invited to be a part of the
revised but perpetually fun celebration.
“In spite of this pandemic, our com-
mittee has a deep commitment to ensure
that our valued elders continue to receive
the honors they deserve,
” said Sharon
Alterman of West Bloomfield, who says
her thoughts reflect those of her event
co-chair Julie Zussman as well. “We have
worked over the past year to plan a virtual
program that will bring home a message
of love and appreciation to the deserving
honorees and their families.
”
The brunch, with a theme of “Our
Classics: 19th Edition,
” includes a lot of “in
lieu of’s” like donated, delivered-to-home
flowers in lieu of personally gifted corsages
and boutonnieres and dropped-off boxed
lunches in lieu of a sit-down meal. Balloon
centerpieces usually placed at tables of
honorees who are 100 years or older will
also be delivered, along
with Hershey bars in spe-
cially designed wrappers.
In a non-pandemic
year, the event — taking
place annually during
Older Americans Month
— typically attracts 400-
450 individuals, including
honorees and guests. For
attendees of the Friday,
May 21, celebration, the
brunch “will take place in the comfort of
their own homes,
” via a recorded program
available on the Jewish Senior Life (JSL)
website (jslmi.org/oab), beginning at 11
a.m., said Leslie Katz, director of FRIENDS
of JSL.
Following the initial viewing, the pro-
gram will remain temporarily on the site
and also will be saved to YouTube.
The brunch, in its second virtual year, is
sponsored by the family of the late Bessie
Spector and community supporters, and
held in partnership with Jewish Senior
Life, Jewish Family Service, JVS Human
Services, the JCC and Detroit Federation.
The video features greetings from
Alterman, Zussman and Katz and
Federation President Matt Lester. From
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the blessing
of the elders will be given by Rabbi Aaron
Starr, and the U.S. and Israel national
anthems will be led by Hazzan David
Propis.
Joan Chernoff Epstein, granddaugh-
ter of brunch namesake Bessie Spector,
along with family members, will recite the
HaMotzi.
SCROLLING WORDS
A singalong will be included on the video,
with favorite classic tunes from years-
past performed by Cantor Penny Steyer
of Temple Shir Shalom, Cantorial Soloist
Marci Shulman and accompanist, Martin
Mandelbaum,
with the songs’
words scrolling on
the bottom of the
screen. Honoree
names and names
of their favorite
author or book will
continually move
across the bottom
of the video.
Giveaway bags,
packaged by
socially distanced
committee mem-
bers in the parking
lot of Fleischman
Residence, will be delivered to honorees in
advance of the brunch. The gift packages
include a washable mask with the “Greatest
Generation” imprint, a teal pen with sty-
lus, a large-print word search, a certificate
signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and
a donated CD of the singalong concert.
“
Also in the gift bag is a songbook with
the words of many classic songs, including
those that will be sung during the concert,
so they’ll have the words in front of them
and on the screen,
” Katz said.
“
And we want those not watching with
an honoree to be able to see what is in
the gift bag and brunch box so the video
Celebrating our most senior seniors.
It’s an Honor!
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
To submit the name of a
member of the Detroit Jewish
community who is 95 years
or older as an honoree, or for
information on the brunch,
contact Leslie Katz at lkatz@
jslmi.org or (248) 321-1437,
or via www.jslmi.org/oab. A
complimentary brunch box
will be provided for each
responding honoree and one
guest at the same location.
Deadline for RSVPs and
submission of honoree names
is Sunday, May 9.
LEFT: Honoree, Milt Zussman of Longboat
Key, Fla., is surrounded by his daughter-
in-law and son, Julie and Rick Zussman of
Huntington Woods, their son Adam Zussman
of Bloomfield Hills and his daughter Delaney,
then 2, at the 2019 Oldest Jewish Americans
Brunch.
OUR COMMUNITY