JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 39

saw some issues. He promptly 
took his blood pressure, saw 
his numbers were abnormally 
high and urged him to rush to 
the emergency room. Later, the 
patient thanked him.
“He was at high risk of hav-
ing a stroke,
” he said. “The 
health of the entire body can be 
seen in the eyes.
” 
Zacks has also prescribed 
vitamins for macular degen-
eration (degeneration of the 
retina) and low-vision aids like 
magnifiers that can make books 
and screens appear double in 
size. 
“If I catch something early, 
I can try and fix it or at least 
maintain the patient’s vision,
” 
said Zacks, who sees patients 
covered by Medicare or who 
pay privately without insurance. 
“
An eye exam may sound like a 
simple thing, but it’s so import-
ant. It can improve the quality 
of a person’s life — they can see 
their families better, enjoy their 
grandchildren, play cards, see 
what they enjoy in life.
”
Zacks visits group homes and 
JARC homes often and finds 
it extremely rewarding when 
patients blink and say, “Wow, I 
can see so much clearer now.
”
If a person needs surgery, 
things get more complicated 
because that’s not something 
he is able to offer in a person’s 
home.
Most of Zacks’ clientele are 
not from the Jewish commu-
nity. “The Jewish community 
is amazing; people take care of 
their elderly parents so beauti-
fully and prioritize taking them 
to their doctor’s appointments,
” 
he said. “It’s a wonderful thing, 
of course, but they should know 
that there’s an even easier way. 
I can come to their parents’ 
homes.
” 

For more information, check out 

www.eyetraveldoc.com or call 

(248) 376-6046.

Chanukah and Diwali 
Bring Hindus and Jews 
Together

MICHAEL KUPER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
J

ews and Hindus 
rejoiced together at 
the Jewish Community 
Relations Council/AJC’s 
annual event celebrating 
both Chanukah and Diwali. 
Co-sponsored by the 
Hindu Community Relations 
Council of Michigan 
(HCRC), more than 100 
participants gathered at 
Congregation Shaarey 
Zedek in Southfield for 
“An Interfaith Festival of 
Lights: Coming together for 
Chanukah & Diwali” that 
included a night of learning, 
music and fellowship.
This year marked the 
third anniversary of this 
now annual event. “We are 
pleased to see the growing 
interest in the joint celebra-
tion of these significant holi-
days,” said Suril Patel, HCRC 
treasurer.
The event continues to 
evolve from its conception 
three years ago.
“It brings us great joy 
to bring our communities 
together to not only under-
stand historical and spiritual 
significance, but also gain an 

appreciation of the immense 
art and cultural heritage,” he 
added.
The program began with a 
candle-lighting ceremony of 
the Chanukah menorah and 
Diwali diyas, the traditional 
ritual objects used during 
these holidays. Two grade-
school children discussed 
what each holiday means 
to them and their families, 
followed by a panel discus-
sion of the meaning of each 
holiday. 
“We look forward to con-
tinuing to build our relation-
ship with the Hindu com-
munity,” said Sam Dubin, 
assistant director/director 
of media relations at JCRC/
AJC. “It’s good to know we 
have friends in the Hindu 
community.”
The crowd enjoyed tradi-
tional Chanukah and Diwali 
music by Chazzan David 
Propis and Kuldip Bhatt. 
The evening concluded 
with cuisine representing 
each holiday. 

Michael Kuper is the JCRC/AJC 
advocacy associate.

Jews and Hindus gathered to celebrate the holidays.

Hadassah Chooses 
Local Leader for New 
Fellowship Program.

Hadassah, the largest Jewish wom-
en’s organization in the U.S., has 
selected Metro Detroiter Amy 
Sapeika to be a member of the 
inaugural class of Evolve Leadership 
Fellows, the organi-
zation’s new leader-
ship development 
program. 
Sapeika, a com-
munications coor-
dinator at Hillel 
Day School of 
Metro Detroit, is a 
third-generation Life 
Member of Hadassah. She moved 
to Detroit from Los Angeles in the 
1990s and joined Hadassah’s Leorah 
Chapter to meet Jewish women who 
shared her interests. She credits that 
group, whose members became 
some of her closest friends, with 
convincing her to accept the invi-
tation to become a Fellow. Sapeika 
is married and has children, who 
attend Hillel. 
“I’m excited about the prospect 
of learning how to inspire others to 
advance Hadassah’s mission to sup-
port Israel, fight antisemitism and 
advocate for women’s health equity,
” 
Sapeika says. “It’s so important that 
Hadassah has a corps of dedicated, 
trained young women ready to step 
into leadership roles when the time 
comes.
” 
Sapeika and the other Fellows, 
who come from around the country, 
were officially welcomed into the 
Hadassah family at Hadassah’s 100th 
national convention, which took 
place in Jerusalem in November. 
Over the next year, they will hear 
from National President Rhoda 
Smolow, CEO Naomi Adler and 
other members of the organization’s 
leadership about how to inspire 
others to advance Hadassah’s mis-
sion to ensure Israel’s safety, fight 
antisemitism, advocate for women’s 
health care and support the world-
class work of the Hadassah Medical 
Organization, Hadassah’s medical 
center in Jerusalem. 

Amy Sapeika

