JANUARY 12 • 2023 | 13

connected him to Rabbi Amzalak. 
“He said we could stay in the house as 
long as we needed,
” Abromovitz shared. 
“Being there was a tremendous benefit for 
my mother in every possible way; she was 
able to recover physically, mentally and 
emotionally. It was a true home away from 
home.
”
More guests stayed in other rooms at 
different intervals, and he enjoyed meeting 
them.
“The house is well furnished, so com-
fortable and has all the amenities we could 
ever need. They even put up a sukkah!” 
said Abromovitz, who moved out when his 
mother moved into Federation’s assisted 
living apartments. “There are no words to 
describe the tremendous benefit that my 
mother and our whole family had from this 
chesed [kindness] … It was just unbeliev-
able.
”
Bais Refoel is not even one year old yet 
and has already housed more than 30 peo-
ple. In addition to the hospitality house, 
Bais Refoel also provides kosher food, 
religious items and services to hospital 
patients and their families in need. They 
can help with medical advocacy, scheduling 
of appointments and provide recommenda-
tions for public programs. 
There’s also an online form to fill out 
with a person’s Hebrew name and his/her 
parents’ names so they can receive a Mi 

Shebeirach, also known as the “prayer for 
healing,
” which is said on days the Torah is 
read. The prayer is also on their website, in 
both Hebrew and English. People can sign 
up to request visits or phone calls for loved 
ones, whether they’re living in nursing 
homes, senior facilities or at home.
“We saw the need for further support and 
community resources, especially for bed-
bound patients and their visitors — and we 
help foster that need. We call on people reg-
ularly to check on them,
” said Gorge. “Our 
objective is to provide visitation and phone 
calls even when they’re well.
” 
Bais Refoel Foundation is an indepen-
dent organization that works together with 
Detroit’s other communal resources. 
“I appreciate having this opportunity to 

service people who need it,
” Rabbi Amzalak 
said. “Over the years, many people have 
said things to me like, ‘My mother’s in the 
hospital and I want to spend all my time 
with her, but I need to crash somewhere; 
where can I sleep?’ or ‘I flew in from out 
of town because my father had a medical 
emergency, but where should I stay?’ Now, I 
actually have an answer for them.
” 

Bais Refoel is seeking volunteers. To sign up or for 

details, visit baisrefoel.com or call Rabbi Amzalak at 

(248) 302-9219.

CLOCKWISE: Rabbi Amzalak reads Megillat 
Esther at a patient’s bedside. People gathered 
for the mezuzah dedication at Bais Refoel. 
Rabbi Amzalak and Mark Gorge help prepare 
kosher-for-Pesach food in the Beaumont 
Hospital (Royal Oak) kitchen for patients.

