J

ewish Senior Life of 
Metropolitan Detroit 
held its 14th Annual 
Meeting on June 25 at 
Meer Apartments in West 
Bloomfield. The event focused 
on how the agency continues 
to pursue excellence and go 
from strength to strength, the 
theme of the 2024 event, at its 
six independent living, assist-
ed living and memory care 
communities.
Deborah Rosenthal, outgo-
ing campaign chair of Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit and outgoing gover-
nance chair (as well as past 
president) of Jewish Senior 
Life, reiterated Federation’s 
ongoing support and commit-
ment to JSL’s mission of serv-
ing the needs of older adults in 
the community. JSL’s outgoing 

president, Mark Kowalsky, 
shared that he looks forward 
to continuing to steer positive 
initiatives for the agency in his 
role as immediate past presi-
dent/governance chair.
JSL CEO Nancy Siegel 
Heinrich gave her ninth annu-
al meeting address, looking 
back at where the agency has 
been and where it is going. 
She focused on the strength-
to-strength theme, discussed 
what makes JSL strong, and 
shared the ways JSL draws on 
its strengths to achieve new 
heights during challenging 
times, highlighting the orga-
nization’s five renovated com-
munities and excellent balance 
sheet. She also addressed real 
challenges including life post-
Covid, the tight employment 
market and the inflationary 

economy within a senior hous-
ing marketplace with great 
occupancy competition, and 
the need to reduce expenses 
and increase revenue.
“My belief is that it is time 
to lean into our mission,” 
Heinrich said. “How many 
marketplace housing providers 
are going to make tzedakah 
available for seniors who make 
too much money to qualify 
for subsidized housing but not 
enough to afford market rents 
or for those who need assist-
ed living? The answer to that 
question is none, except for 
Jewish Senior Life. If we aren’t 
there for our seniors, who will 
be?” 
Heinrich reiterated that 
when baby boomers are ready 
to consider a senior living 
facility, Jewish Senior Life 

will be there for them. She 
outlined numerous ways that 
JSL will continue to sustain 
and improve the organization, 
including reducing expenses 
while continuing to invest in 
maintaining and upgrading its 
communities, top-to-bottom 
customer service training, 
providing more living and 
dining options for market rate 
residents, and joining with 
Federation for increased com-
munity support to ensure that 
middle income older adults 
can live in safe, loving, com-
munity integrated residences. 
JSL has also launched the 
first of its kind Live and 
Learn Community at Meer, 
thanks to grants from The 
Gerson Innovation Fund, the 
Marcia Applebaum Older 
Adults Enrichment Fund and 

Jewish Senior Life shares its vision and mission at 14th Annual Meeting.
There for Jewish Seniors

continued on page 16

CAROLYN KRIEGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

OUR COMMUNITY

14 | JULY 25 • 2024 
J
N

L to R: JSL Board Members Jason Fisher, Asa Gotlieb, Heather Salesin, Lowell Salesin, Sonya Kay, Dan Cherrin, Alan Sternfeld, Karen Rubenfire, 
Nancy Reed, Jack Rothenberg, Mark Kowalsky, Mark Berke