48 | AUGUST 15 • 2024 

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uests “stepped right up” at Jewish Senior 
Life’s 23rd Annual Bessie Spector Oldest 
Jewish Americans Celebration on June 
21 at Adat Shalom Synagogue, celebrating 164 
beloved members of the Jewish community who 
are 95 years of age and older. This year’s Under 
the Big Top circus-themed event was the brain-
child of ringmaster Beth Robinson, director of 
Friends of Jewish Senior Life, and event co-chairs 
Joyce Berlin Weingarten, Julie Zussman and Jain 
Lauter. 
Volunteers donned big bow ties and colorful 
clown hats. Whimsical decor provided by The 
Parade Company created a fun, festive atmo-
sphere. 
More than 300 people enjoyed brunch and 
entertainment by Hazzan Daniel Gross. 
The annual event is sponsored by the family of 
Bessie Spector and is presented through a part-
nership with Jewish Senior Life, Jewish Family 
Service, Gesher Human Services, The J-Detroit 
and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. 

1. Jan Lachman, Sandy Needle, and seated honoree Blanche Needle. 2. Joyce Berlin Weingarten, Beth Robinson, Jain Lauter, 
Julie Zussman, Jo Rosen, Nancy Siegel Heinrich. 3. Committee members Dennis and Peggy Frank. 4. Cheryl Ceifitz, Andrea 
Torf and honoree Ann Kroll Torf (seated). 5 Honoree Helen Urnovitz. 6. Committee member Heather Salesin making cen-
terpieces. 7. Mark Heckler and Harold Goodman. 8. Honoree Sherwin Corlin. 9. Honoree Faye Jacobs (center) with children 
Darlene Rothman, Ronnie Jacobs. 10. Volunteers Dottie Levitsky, Linda Klein, Sharon Alterman, Wendy Handler. 11. Phyllis 
Lewkowicz and brother and sister honorees Harold Friedman and Mildred Zivov. 12. Honorees Arthur Fishman and Marcia 
Tanzman, with Dr. Cheryl Blau. 13. Honoree Edith Resnick and Nancy Resnick. 14 Honoree Harold Kusnetz and Ada Yerman.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEWISH SENIOR LIFE 

faces&places

23rd Annual 
Bessie Spector 
Oldest Jewish 
Americans 
Celebration

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