MLK, Jewish Geography, Holocaust Journey, Chinese New Year, Pajama Day and Challah Baking

Dear friends,

Our week began with programs focusing on Martin Luther King day and his legacy. Many of our elders have vivid memories of the early days of the Civil Rights movement and of Dr. King as well and shared their stories with us. At Jewish Home Assisted Living, we had a program led by Rabbi Korenblit entitled “Dr. Martin Luther King and the Rabbi who Prayed with his Feet.” At the Jewish Home at Rockleigh volunteer Florence Poris presented a session of Jewish Home University focused on Dr. King’s life and contributions and we screened the film “Selma” in the evening. And the Gallen Day Center participants had a Monday afternoon program about Dr. King and shared not just their memories but also their emotions relating to both the man and the era.

Monday morning at Jewish Home Assisted Living was enlivened by volunteers from the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. We had ten volunteers who played games with the elders and visited with them. In a funny moment of “Jewish geography,” one of the volunteers turned out to have a great connection, the volunteer’s grandparents and elder both were from the same street in Brooklyn and were best friends!

On Tuesday we had the pleasure of having Jewish Home at Rockleigh board member Rosalee Keech and her husband, Doug, provide a fascinating program. Rosalee’s father had lived at Jewish Home Assisted Living and many folks remember him. He was a Holocaust survivor who ended up in a displaced persons camp in Bari, Italy after the war. He spoke very positively about his time there and it was a place where he was able to really regain his health and his zest for living. While he never visited, Rosalee always wanted to go. She and her husband took a trip to Italy and, with the help of their travel agent, managed to unearth the exact location of the DP camp (now a field) and visit it. That visit took place one year to the day following her father’s death and everyone was struck by both the story and the sense of “closing a circle.”

Wednesday was the day for our Chinese New Year celebration and what a celebration it was! Our very own Avi Feld led the elders in an amazing afternoon activity. Avi decorated the community room to look like a very high end Chinese restaurant. Then he had each of the elders create their own wontons, choosing from three different fillings (one beef, one avocado and one gingered cabbage). They filled, folded and sealed and then Avi fried them at a set up nearby. Not only did everyone enjoy them but there were even Chinese takeout containers so folks could take them home. On Thursday Rabbi Korenblit spoke on “A Plague on Your House Pharaoh,” the personal shoppers were at work and we also had Tai Chi in both Assisted Living and Memory Lane. Friday concluded with “Headlines with Beth” and Professor Ian Drake’s talk on “The Role of Independent Voters in the 2020 Elections.”

The Gallen Day Center’s week began with another session of our “Buddy program” which pairs participants with different levels of cognitive ability. This week we worked sensory Items. Tuesday began with LaughActive Yoga, which is always a big hit. In the afternoon Rosalee Keech repeated the presentation she’d given at Assisted Living in the morning and the crowd was equally enthralled and moved by her presentation. Wednesday included two workout programs, Delay the Disease and Music in Motion to help us maintain our mobility and have fun at the same time. On Thursday, sixteen men took part in our Men’s Group and each shared something about themselves that “no one would know.” It was a great success. While the men were sharing their stories, Celso serenaded the ladies in the other room. He played his guitar for us and sang some of our old time favorites. We wrapped up with a lively game of “Bowling for Dollars.” Friday included a lunch outing to the Stateline Diner along with Jewelry Club.

Group activities kicked off the week at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh including Name that Tune and Trivial Pursuit. Our Sunday Afternoon of Music featured Valley Music Group. These high school students from around Bergen County entertained us with both classical and contemporary music featuring cello, flute, trombone, ukulele, guitar and vocals. It was a great program and very lively! On Monday morning volunteers from the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey took part in our “Winter Olympics.” We had both games and a discussion of the history of the Winter Olympics. We also enjoyed pet visits and our “community music group.” Tuesday was a fun day—it was a Pajama Party for the Jewish Home at Rockleigh. In the morning we had Tai Chi on the Seiden unit, music circle on Rubin and a “Camp Fire” discussion on Kaplen 2. In the afternoon we celebrated Activity Professionals Week with our Pajama Party. The room was decorated with stuffed animals and colorful blankets, we had music and dancing and we enjoyed hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate chip cookies. What could be bad about that? Later that day we had Sensory Sensations and a Plant Doctor program where elders took part in both doing some planting and talking about gardening.

On Wednesday we celebrated “Kazoo Day,” and the folks in our Steady Boxing had a great time learning these instruments, also great tools for voice activation work. On Thursday we had a great Jewish Home University program on the Solar System Part 2. This session talked about Venus, Mars and Neptune and covered both scientific and astrological aspects of the planets. Our Kaplen 2 elders had a great time with challah baking, rolling challah in cinnamon and sugar. Friday included Jazzercise, Men’s Club and a joyful visit with 8th graders from Temple Sinai of Bergen County. We wrapped up the week with a Belly Laugh program in recognition of Global Belly Laugh week!

This week’s blog can be found here: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/on-vision/ As always, your feedback is welcome!

All the best,

Carol Silver Elliott
President/CEO
The Jewish Home Family