FEBRUARY 9 • 2023 | 27

L

oss is an unavoidable part 
of life, but that doesn’t 
make it any less devastat-
ing. Having the right tools and 
support can make a difference 
as you move through your per-
sonal journey.
Jewish Family Service of 
Metro Detroit is providing a 
grief and loss support group 
where those in need will find 
comfort and camaraderie. 
This eight-session group, 
for women 60+, will be led by 
JFS licensed clinicians Mayim 
Meyers, LMSW
, and Cici Syms, 
LMSW
, and will focus on pro-
viding a safe and supportive 
space to acknowledge and begin 
to process grief. The sessions 
will teach coping skills, explain 
the nonlinear process of grief, 
help with feelings of isolation, 
instill increased understanding 
of typical and complex grief, 
and establish connections with 
others in a similar place.
“I think lots of people know 
conceptually that grief is non-
linear and that there are steps, 
but it’s very different to under-
stand it on a conceptual level 
versus living it, breathing it, 
talking about it and experienc-
ing it with other people,
” Meyers 
said. 
The sessions take place 
Fridays from 10-11:30 a.m. at 
the West Bloomfield JFS build-
ing (6555 West Maple Road). 
Session dates are Feb. 10, Feb. 
24, March 10, March 24, April 
14, April 28, May 5 and June 2. 
JFS was able to access a grant 
from the Jewish Fund Teen 
Board, which helped fund a 
certain amount of training for 

many of JFS’ clinical staff to 
become much more well versed 
in processing grief. 
Even before the pandemic, 
Syms felt there was a big need 
to create connectedness after 
someone experienced a loss. 
“For a lot of my clients, I had 
noticed it was a really isolative 
experience,
” Syms said. “It grew 
from that. We saw this opportu-
nity and need in the community 
to foster not only a connec-
tion in general, but especially 
post-pandemic, when people 
can be so much more isolated.
”
JFS is hoping to offer this as 
a series touching on many dif-
ferent aspects of grief and loss, 
including the development of a 
group for men, another one for 
parents who’ve lost a child and 
one for the broader community.
“Loss can be so specific, 
depending on the nature of 
the loss and the relationship 

with the person you might be 
mourning,
” Syms said. “I’m 
hoping we can try to provide an 
array of groups to really encom-
pass the community and the 
specific needs that are inherent 
in the community.
”
Knowing not everyone can 
attend in person, JFS is think-
ing about doing virtual groups 
as well. JFS has been asking 
for feedback from many of its 
community partners to see what 
they can do to help and further 
explore grief and loss needs 
within the community. 
“If there’s a need out there, 
please call us and let us know so 
that we can put together a group 
specifically for whatever that 
unmet need is,
” Meyers said. 

To create an intimate environment, 

group size is limited. If you are inter-

ested or for more information, contact 

Mayim Meyers at (248) 592-2694 or 

mmeyers@jfsdetroit.org.

Jewish Family Service has a program for grieving 
women over age 60.

Tools For Grief and Loss

DANNY SCHWARTZ 
STAFF WRITER

Hadassah Greater Detroit 
invites you to a heart-
healthy program with area 
health professionals at 6:45 
p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the 
Demonstration Kitchen at 
Henry Ford Hospital West 
Bloomfield, 6777 W. Maple 
Road.
Panelists include Diane 
Klingler, RN, MSN, ANP/C, 
a cardiology nurse at Henry 
Ford Hospital; Laurie 
Epstein Kach, LMSW 
ACSW, a clinical social 
worker who will provide 
techniques on how to main-
tain healthy habits; and 
Julie Levinson, a certified 
yoga specialist and lead 
yoga teacher at Henry Ford 
Health
There will also be a short 
video with Dr. Donna 
Zwas, director of the Linda 
Joy Pollin Cardiovascular 
Wellness Center for Women 
at Hadassah Hospital in 
Jerusalem.
Healthy refreshments will 
be served.
Parking is available in 
the hospital’s front lot. 
Please use the main hospi-
tal entrance. Henry Ford 
Hospital West Bloomfield 
requires that masks be worn 
to enter the building.
All attendees without 
exception will be required 
to sign a Hadassah Event 
Participation Release to 
attend Hadassah in-person 
events.
For more information, con-
tact Hadassah Greater Detroit 
at greaterdetroit@hadassah.
org or (248) 683-5030. 

Hadassah Hosts 
Program on 
Healthy Hearts

