Jewish Seniors Reach out to Jewish Soldiers

 

Senior Citizens, some nearly 100 years old, work in tandem with Project M.O.T. to create handmade Rosh HaShanah greetings and Chanukah menorahs, as well as 24 handmade seder plates and hand sewn matzah covers. These items were sent to Jewish soldiers who serve our country in Iraq and Afghanistan so that our heroes could have the opportunity to celebrate the Jewish holidays. “Our Jewish soldiers need you,” was our message as we explained to our ALF residents that their participation would fulfill a real need. 

The Rabbi working with Anchin Resident, Dorothy Union.

As the daughter of an American liberator of the Buchenwald camp, and a former national chaplain of Bugles Across America, I’ve had life experiences related to the work of the military. Through this involvement I was able to contact Project MOT co-directors, Marsha Roseman and Joan Rimmon to ask how our seniors, many of whom are WW II veterans, could help our Jewish men and women in uniform – especially those who currently serve in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

At Roseman and Rimmon’s direction,

the seniors created personalized messages for Rosh HaShanah, “chanukiyot” for the Festival of Lights and, to fulfill a special request by Project MOT, the seniors created hand made seder plates, hand sewn matzah covers and Elijah and Miriam Cups for Jewish soldiers serving in desert outposts.

Vets as Volunteers

Volunteers look on as an Anchin resident designs her cup.

The project’s success was due in large part to the dedication of volunteers who assisted seniors in organizing their materials, decorating and applying glue and writing personalized messages.  And, since the project was directly connected to soldiers, Jewish veterans were invited to assist the residents. 

In addition to the hands-on help that the veterans gave to residents, these brave men and women also engaged residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia in conversation and encouraged them to speak about theirs or their spouse’s military service.     

What Did the Soldiers Say?

The letters from soldiers demonstrated how touched they were to know that seniors, some as old as their great grandparents, took the time to remember them. And our seniors, many of whom are veterans of the Greatest Generation, saw first hand how their efforts contributed to the emotional health of our men and women in uniform.   

The letters we received were heartwarming and demonstrated to our seniors how very valuable their work really was. Take a look at the two we've featured below:

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful Hanukkah package I received this year.  This year for Hanukkah I got to go to Kandahar Air Field (the largest base in the area) for the first night.  It was the first time I had seen other Jewish soldiers since the High Holy Days.  It was obviously nice to see them all again and light the candles. Anyway, thanks again for your help and support.  

I really do appreciate all the thoughts. Take care. 
Sincerely, LT Joel, Kandahar City, Afghanistan

Sarah Judah, soldier in Afghanistan.

Hello! This is Sarah Judah from Afghanistan. I got a care package today and I wanted to say thank you so much! Is there anyway to send my thanks to everyone who donated? I attached a picture I would like to send to the Kobernick House and Anchin Pavilion along with my thanks. A Happy Passover to everyone!
Sarah

Seniors Make Their Own Western Wall

Recipient of the 2012 AJAS JEWISH PROGRAMMING AWARD

Jewish Housing Council

Sarasota, Florida

Some of you may have participated in this wonderful event, and I wanted to share a bit about what we all accomplished last September. Here’s some background:

The Program

Just in time for Rosh HaShanah 5772, I organized a campus-wide initiative to bring senior residents of Kobernick House, family members and staff together to create a replica of Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Residents and their family members appreciated the opportunity that the replica Wall provided: it allowed them to experience symbolically one of the most sacred Jewish sites.

Some of you have asked how was the wall constructed.

Credit: Jesse Smith

The Wall itself was constructed from a collection of nearly 75 shoeboxes, donated in large part by staff. Latex paint formed the base coat, applied by the residents in the Memory Support wing. Other residents were in charge of stippling the latex-covered shoeboxes. Sponge pieces were the tool for this part of the process. Independent living residents took charge with the detailed work, adding gold glitter to the “stones,” representing the golden sunlight that often shines on the original Wall. Kobernick Maintenance staff, Activity Directors and I affixed the shoebox “stones” with aerosol glue to large sheets of the plywood.

And then the moment arrived! As the Kotel took shape against a wall outside of our “shul,” residents and staff added the finishing touches – artificial greens and hanging branches as well as real Florida Spanish moss!

 

The Impact

When Rosh HaShanah arrived, the Wall was in place. Spotlights illuminated the area and shone off each uniquely crafted stone.  A small table placed near the wall held pens, paper and tape so that anyone could write a prayer or message and literally place it between our “stones.”

As residents and their families arrived for High Holy Day and throughout the High Holy Day cycle, many took time to visit the Wall – to talk together, to reflect and even to point with pride to “my stone – the one I made myself!” 

Women of the Wall members in Jerusalem

By creating a replica Wall, we were able to offer a unique experience and a special place for the local community to share their individual prayers and notes. But these prayers went beyond the replica Wall. After Simchat Torah, the Wall was dismantled and the prayers sent to Jerusalem where members of the organization, “Women of the Wall,” lovingly placed each of the nearly 200 prayers directly into the real Kotel.

Follow-Up:

Here’s a note from our wonderful contact in Jerusalem, Molly Livingstone:

“I just wanted you to know that the Women of the Wall have placed your notes written by your seniors. We feel honored to have placed these notes in the wall for you and hope you find the pictures as a token of our appreciation…”.

Thank you, Molly. It was a real gift to have Women of the Wall be a part of this collaborative experience!

 

If you’re interested in reading more about the event, and to see more photos please check out the linked news articles here and on my website.

Chag Sameach, Everyone!