18 | JUNE 1 • 2023 

A

fter days of drizzle, 
the sun came out 
and seemed to give 
its blessing to the Bessie 
Spector Oldest Jewish 
Americans Celebration 
on Friday, May 5, at Adat 
Shalom. As the honorees 
pulled up to the curb, a 
crowd of volunteers was 
waiting to welcome them 
and escort them inside. The 
energy was a little like the 
Tamarack bus (minus the tie-
dyed duffels, plus corsages 
and boutonnieres) with 
everyone — honorees, guests 
and volunteers — so excited 
to see each other after being 
unable to gather in person for 
three years.

Co-chairs Jain Lauter, Joyce 
Berlin-Weingarten and Julie 
Zussman greeted the more 
than 300 guests, 89 of whom 
were honorees age 95 and 
up — 19 of those honorees 
were over 100. The synagogue 
was scrambling with more 
volunteers, helping honorees 
through registration, on 
to the flower table where 
boutonnieres were pinned 
and corsages slipped on, and 
then into the social hall. 
The crowd settled in for 
a warm welcome from the 
chairs and thank yous to 
the agencies that collaborate 
on this event: Jewish Senior 
Life, the Jewish Community 
Center, Jewish Family Service, 

Gesher Human Services 
and Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit. 
Hazzan Daniel Gross led 
the national anthems. Joan 
Chernoff-Epstein, Cathy 
Slavik and their mother, Betty 
Chernoff, the family of Bessie 
Spector, who have ensured 
the continuation of the event 
by sponsoring the event each 
year in her memory, led the 
Motzi. 
Rabbis Dan Horwitz and 
Blair Nosanwisch led guests 
in a blessing of the elders, 
asking family members to 
stand and put their hands 
on their parents’ and 
grandparents’ heads and 
recite “May God bless you 

and protect you ... May 
God show you favor and be 
gracious to you ... May God 
show you kindness and grant 
you peace.” 
Federation President Matt 
Lester brought heartfelt 
greetings from Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, capturing the spirit 
of the event and how vital 
our seniors have been to our 
community. 
JSL Executive Director 
of Development Jo Rosen 
honored the centenarians 
and called attention to the 
oldest attendee, Rachel Fox, 
who will be 108 next month, 
and the largest family group, 
the 27 members of Maxine 

OUR COMMUNITY

Community 
Honors 
Older Adults

The Bessie Spector Oldest 
Jewish Americans Celebration 
was a huge success.

JN STAFF

Cathy Slavik, Betty 
Chernoff and Joan 
Chernoff-Espstein

Volunteers Linda 
Klein, Dottie Levitsky 
and Sharon Alterman

Joyce Berlin Weingarten 
and JSL President 
Nancy Siegel Heinrich

