MARCH 3 • 2022 | 15

she’s excited 
to have more 
options when it 
comes to places 
to take the kids. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“I’m looking 
forward to hav-
ing things I can 
take them both to with other 
grandparents,” she says. 
With this new program, she 
can go with her friends and 
connect this new generation.
Spending the time togeth-
er is more than meaningful, 
notes Ken Korotkin, “Papa 
Ken” to six grandkids ages 
2-14. “It gives you a chance 
to really have an impact on 
the children’s lives,” he says. 
“And you feel special, too.” 
Korotkin, who raised three 
daughters as a single dad, 
notes that, as a grandparent, 
he feels teaching his grand-
kids his ethics, morals and 
values is key. The Bloomfield 
Hills resident is enthusiastic 
about Jewish programming 
he can attend with his 
grandkids and wants to see 
JGrand evolve. 
He’s made the rounds 
of area classes for Jewish 
children and says he’s a big 
proponent of bubbie/zaydie 
camp and other opportuni-
ties that bring him and his 
grandchildren together in a 
Jewish context. 
“I’m proud to be Jewish,” 
he says. “And I think it’s 
important for me to teach 
that to my grandchildren.” 
Emily Korotkin of 
Bloomfield Hills first got 
involved with the JCC’s 
JBaby when she was preg-
nant with her son, Davis, 
now 3. She’s glad her dad 
would want to take Davis 
and little sister Cash, 2, to 
the programs. 
“My grandparents were 
integral parts of my life, and 
so was my Jewish upbring-
ing, so, to me, the two go 
hand in hand,” she says. “I 

just like being involved in 
the community, supporting 
the programs that help with 
the community’s infra-
structure and that also help 
expose our kids to aspects of 
Jewish life.” 
Family time is important 
to her and her wife, Stacy, 
she explains. “I think any-
thing you can do with your 
family where you’re learning, 
growing and getting special 
time together is important 
to us,” she says. “The quality 
time is just something that’s 
irreplaceable.” 

NEAR AND FAR
Franci Silver, who oversees 
the program on behalf of the 
JCC board, believes this is 
the first program of its kind 
to offer events for grandpar-
ents with kids both in and 
out of town. 
 Silver, with a 2-year-old 
granddaughter in Tampa, 
looks forward to having a 
program that allows grand-
parents to stay connected 
with their grandkids, no 
matter where they live.
She says she hopes 
grandparents embrace this 
innovative opportunity to 
connect with their grand-
kids. For younger children, 
for example, having an 
activity to do together could 
also help them stay online 
longer. 
“It keeps them interested, 
and it keeps them active 
with their grandparents,” 
Silver says. 
She adds that the JCC is a 
natural place for such a pro-
gram to be housed. 
“I think the Jewish 
community is so tight in 
Michigan; it’s just warm, 
friendly and communi-
ty-based,” she says. “It’s just 
another thing to add to that 
list of things the community 
does for each other and with 
each other.” 

Patti 
Phillips

South Florida 
Real Estate

SHELDON
JAFFEE

LANGREALTY

• 40+ Years of Experience
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Photo: Francesco Scavullo

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