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

