54 | SEPTEMBER 28 • 2023 
J
N

JFS Receives Grant to Help Older 
Adults with Health Care Management

A generous grant from 
the Sinai Medical Staff 
Foundation will allow 
Jewish Family Service to 
expand its chronic disease 
management services to 
help older adults overcome 
barriers to health care 
management.
Chronic diseases place 
a significant burden on 
individuals, health care 
systems and community-
based organizations. Based 
on the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services data, 
69% of older adults have two 
or more chronic conditions 
and 40% have some form 
of disability, including 
mobility, sensory, cognitive 

or self-care limitations. 
The grant will help JFS 
reach its goals of educating 
older adults about lifestyle 
and risk factors that impact 
their chronic illnesses and 
improving older adults’ 
ability to manage their 
chronic conditions and their 
overall quality of life.
“These funds will help us 
strengthen and expand our 
focus on healthy aging,” says 
Yuliya Gaydayenko, Chief 
Program Officer, Older 
Adult Services. “We are so 
grateful to the Sinai Medical 
Staff Foundation as their gift 
allows us to have a positive 
impact on more community 
members.” 

The William Davidson 
Foundation was honored to 
fund a new collaboration 
among the Rabbi Sacks 
Legacy, Sefaria and Koren 
Jerusalem, to bring Rabbi 
Sacks’ literary legacy online 
and maximize its impact and 
reach.
Sefaria is a digital library 
of 3,000 years of Jewish 
texts, translations and 
commentaries, enabling 
everyone to participate in the 
ongoing process of studying, 
interpreting and creating 
Torah.
Ten years ago, when 
Sefaria was little more than 
an idea, Rabbi Lord Jonathan 
Sacks zt”l became one of 
their earliest champions. 
Sefaria, he said, “has the 
potential to become the 
digital home of the book for 
the people of the book.”
Beloved by millions who 
appreciated his intelligent 

and accessible approach to 
Jewish thought, Rabbi Sacks 
demonstrated the relevance 
of our shared texts in 
contemporary life. While that 
legacy fortunately survives 
in the teachings and writings 
that he published tirelessly 
throughout his lifetime, 
there’s more to be done.
As part of this 
collaboration, Koren 
Jerusalem is publishing new 
English volumes by Rabbi 
Sacks and translating many 
of his books into Hebrew 
— as well as reprinting 
earlier works that have been 
unavailable for years.
Ultimately, all of Rabbi 
Sacks’ works published by 
Koren will be available on 
Sefaria — more than three 
dozen volumes in total. 
These will join the library 
in stages over the coming 
years, starting with an initial 
release in 2024. 

Bringing the Late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ 
Teaching to More People

Cultural Holidays Recognized 
by Michigan

The Michigan House 
of Representatives 
passed a package of bills 
acknowledging the rich 
diversity of cultures and 
religions that Michiganders 
celebrate and observe. 
The legislation establishes 
Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid 
al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, 
Vaisakhi, Rosh Hashanah 
and Yom Kippur as state-
recognized holidays in 
Michigan.
“As Jews in Greater West 
Bloomfield and across 
Michigan prepared to mark 
Rosh Hashanah, I could 
not have been more proud 
that our House Democratic 
Majority passed my bill 
to honor the Jewish New 
Year in Michigan law,” 
said state Rep. Noah Arbit 
(D-West Bloomfield), 
sponsor of HB 4544. “In 
a time of rising hate and 
bigotry, it is high time that 
our government works 

to reflect the diversity 
of all our communities 
in Michigan, and that 
is exactly why House 
Democrats’ holiday bills 
are so needed.”
Added state Rep. 
Samantha Steckloff 
(D-Farmington Hills), 
also a sponsor of the 
bill: “Part of the historic 
marginalization of 
ethnic and religious 
minorities is the lack of 
acknowledgement for their 
culture. 
“Adding these holidays 
to the state calendar is 
a small but meaningful 
gesture of inclusion for the 
communities that add to 
Michigan’s rich diversity. 
Yom Kippur is the holiest 
day in Judaism and 
deserves equal standing 
with all the other holidays 
our state currently 
recognizes.” 

State Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills), center, joined 
by state Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield), right, speaks on 
legislation to make observances like Rosh Hashanah and Yom 
Kippur official state holidays on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, at the 
state Capitol in Lansing.

SPOTLIGHT

