Jewish Home resident Michaela Mendelovici enjoys a heartwarming visit from her loving son, who came all the way from Israel. With COVID-19 in retreat in Southern California, residents across Los Angeles including those of the Los Angeles Jewish Home are joyfully reemerging from quarantine and turning the page on a long and challenging year. A sense of normalcy is returning to life at the Jewish Home—and residents are eagerly soaking it in. "There's tremendous excitement among our residents, who are so ready for a resumption of physical contact with their friends and loved ones," says Larissa Stepanians, chief operating officer of the Jewish Home. "As we come out of the dark tunnel of the pandemic, we're finally able to glimpse a light at the end, and it's definitely created an intensity of emotions." Those emotions run equally high among residents' family members. "Now that we are both vaccinated, I love that I can finally be with my mom and see she is doing well," says Suzanne Berman. Her mother, Michele Pakula, is a resident of the Home's Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and age-related dementia. "The pandemic was very hard, but my mom is a Holocaust survivor. If you can survive that, you can make it through anything."Jewish Home resident and Holocaust Survivor Michele Pakula holds hands with daughter Suzanne Berman as they reunite for an in-person visit. Janet Bramson, whose mother, Florence Kay, also lives at the Jewish Home, was feeling a similar swell of happiness. "After not being able to see my mom for months, my whole family came to visit, and I feel like we were able to breathe new life into her," Janet says. "We visited and laughed and just had such a warm, wonderful time." In addition to increased visitation, residents are slowly and safely embracing other pre-pandemic activities, as well, from religious services, to beauty shop appointments, to light gardening. Throughout the reopening, the Jewish Home is closely adhering to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) directives. "There are numerous state and federal agencies issuing guidelines related to COVID-19, and we are required to follow the most stringent, which is CDPH's guidance," Larissa says. With its beautiful, landscaped grounds, the Jewish Home has natural advantages that make navigating CDPH mandates easier than it might be at many other facilities. "Our campuses, which consist of between seven and nine gorgeous acres between Eisenberg Village and Grancell Village alone, lend themselves to outdoor activities," Larissa says. "Our residents can soak up the sunshine, sit and read a book, or take a lovely walk often with an aide. Of course, while they're out and about, we ask them to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and others."Suzanne shows Michele photos of relatives, making up for lost time. As residents venture beyond their rooms, Jewish Home staff members are working harder than ever, adjusting protocols to suit the new, more relaxed environment. Their primary focus is ensuring residents remain safe and healthy, which means sticking to the Home's comprehensive mitigation plan. "Every building at the Jewish Home has a plan that includes extensive infection control practices, staff training, and detailed visitation policies," Larissa says. "It's one of the reasons our facilities have done so well throughout the pandemic." Given the Home's success at reopening thus far, Larissa foresees even more opportunities on the horizon. "We're now looking at bringing back communal dining in a fuller capacity, and eventually we hope to resume some off campus activities, like taking residents shopping," Larissa says. "These things take time to implement, and our residents and their families have been incredibly understanding. But I think we're getting closer—so stay tuned!" Michele and daughter Suzanne hug during an in-person visit.

Across the country, people are signing up for the COVID-19 vaccine, as they meet the criteria, and hoping it brings with it the beginning of a return to normal life. Residents of the Los Angeles Jewish Home are similarly optimistic, buoyed by having received both doses of the Moderna vaccine and eager to resume activities that bring them into closer contact once again with their families, their friends at the Home, and those who care for them each day. "Ninety-nine percent of our residents, and approximately 80 percent of our staff, have now been fully vaccinated," says Noah Marco, MD, chief medical officer of the Jewish Home. "We did it efficiently and safely, which is a hallmark of how we operate here at the Jewish Home." The speed with which Jewish Home administrators were able to secure sufficient quantities of the vaccine is a testament to the organization's skill, experience, and track record of success, Dr. Marco says. "We were very confident, based on our pre-planning and our relationships with the state and the county, that we would have enough vaccine for everyone. It took the average person at the Jewish Home less than 15 minutes from the time they showed up to receive the second dose, whereas many people across the city and around the country have to give up several hours of their day, if they can even obtain a vaccine in the first place." Of course, even with the vaccine, the Jewish Home is treading carefully and thoughtfully, following all health and safety guidelines to ensure residents' and staff well-being as the pandemic stretches into its second year. But, many residents say, inoculation has definitely helped lift their spirits. "I feel like there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel," says Elaine Cohen, a resident of Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer (JEK) Medical Center on the Jewish Home's Grancell Village campus. "I will someday be able to reunite with family." Elaine's fellow JEK residents share her positive outlook. "I have a sense of relief and feel honored to have received the vaccine," says Indrani Mahaindra. "This is the beginning of the end of this horrible pandemic." Hersz Alterman notes how thankful he is that a vaccine was developed in such a record-breaking amount of time. "I'm grateful and appreciate science for creating the vaccine," he says. "Thanks to these incredible researchers, I will someday be able to hug my only granddaughter." On the Eisenberg Village (EV) campus, residents are also starting to breathe a sigh of relief. "Our last two Town Hall call-in meetings with Jewish Home staff have been even more upbeat and positive, giving everyone a glimmer of hope," says Judith Karon, president of the EV Resident Council. "Residents are thrilled to see things beginning to reopen, like physical therapy and the campus beauty salon." Sandy Fine, who has taken on a leadership role with EV's resident-run post office, says the response to the planned reopening has been phenomenal. "People really want to be part of it," she says. Those people include residents Howard Krupnick and Norma Garber. Howard, a new post office volunteer, says he is "happy to have a job and to be helping out at the Jewish Home." As for Norma, she is delighted about finally being able to return to the Arts & Crafts room. "I was so ready for it," she says. "This is my happy place!"

Spring is upon us, bringing flowers in bloom, longer days of sunshine, and fresh optimism and hope to the Los Angeles Jewish Home. This year, the end of winter coincides with a cautious hope around the gradual tapering off of the COVID-19 pandemic—coming at a powerful time as we prepare to welcome Passover, a holiday that celebrates themes of liberation.Photo taken during last year's Passover celebration. Passover has always been a special time at the Los Angeles Jewish Home, dating back to the organization's beginning more than a century ago. In 1912, a small group of caring neighbors gave shelter to five homeless Jewish men at Passover, and the Jewish Home was born. Local grocer Simon Lewis, one of the Home's founders, was haunted by the "forlorn old people without family, friends, or shelter standing within our gates, pleading for our assistance." The Jewish Home was a refuge where these seniors could find critical support. Lewis and his fellow co-founders could scarcely have dreamed what the Jewish Home would one day become: one of the nation's preeminent providers of senior care, serving 4,000 men and women annually. From its humble origins, the Jewish Home has grown into a recognized leader in programs and services designed to ensure elderly Americans' robust physical and emotional health. This Passover, the Jewish Home is beginning to experience a slow and safe reopening of its vibrant residential life. As they contemplate the unprecedented year just passed, Jewish Home residents see key parallels with the holiday and its deeper meaning for how we live our lives. "The pandemic has been challenging, but I am very grateful," says Connie Robin, a resident at Fountainview at Gonda Westside and chair of the facility's Jewish Life Committee. "I feel blessed to live in a country where I'm free to live Jewishly. I'm also grateful to be living at Fountainview at Gonda Westside during this time. Had I been in my own home during COVID, I would have been very lonely." Eisenberg Village resident Joy Snyder acknowledges the difficulties presented by the pandemic, but says Passover is a perfect time to gain some perspective. "There is always hope in life, even if sometimes it is a little slow in coming," she says. Just as the ancient Israelites needed to bide their time to escape Egyptian slavery, so, too do we need to have a little patience as we wait for our current predicament to pass. "It can be a struggle, but we need to roll with the punches and try to keep our psyches up and a smile on our faces," Joy says. Photo taken during last year's Passover celebration. For Joy's fellow resident Harriet Rosenberg, the holiday is an opportunity to anticipate what life will be like once the coronavirus is finally behind us. "To me, Passover is a time for being with family," she says. "As much as the Jewish Home does to help everyone celebrate the holiday, I look forward to being with my family again!" Doris Gould, who lives in the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer (JEK) Medical Center on the Jewish Home's Grancell Village campus, concurs. "Passover means getting together with friends and family, celebrating freedom and being able to sing with joy," she says. As the pandemic begins to recede from view, she is eager to add her voice to a triumphant chorus of loved ones sharing food and laughter at the same holiday table. Another JEK resident, Shirley Landau, is channeling her Passover energy into practical prayers that echo the holiday's narrative of a partnership between God and man. It takes Moses and the Israelites to put God's Exodus plan into motion—a collaboration that results in eventual success. "I used to pray for God to take away the pandemic," Shirley says. "Then I switched to asking God to give man the brains to create a shot to make us safe. That's God's way of doing it." The prayers seem to be paying off. "I got both shots!" says Shirley, who—like 99 percent of all eligible residents at the Jewish Home—benefited from the Home's rapid vaccine rollout. For Shirley and her fellow residents at the Jewish Home, this year Passover is coming at the right time, as we celebrate liberation in its many forms.

The holiday of Purim began at sundown on February 25th—but at the Los Angeles Jewish Home, the festivities had already started. "Purim comes midway through the Jewish month of Adar, and our tradition says it's a month for increasing joy," says Rabbi Karen Bender, Skirball director of spiritual life at the Jewish Home. "It's a mitzvah [good deed] to bring levity and happiness for the entire month, so I make it my goal to bring laughter to our residents throughout." Purim tells the story of Mordechai and Esther, who work together in ancient Persia to stop the evil Haman [a central advisor to the king] from murdering all of the country's Jews. Their successful campaign results in the Jews being saved—and in Haman dying on the very gallows he has constructed for their killing. "To celebrate the foiling of Haman's plan, we dress up in costume and engage in merrymaking," Rabbi Bender says. "Of course, with COVID, we've had to improvise our celebrations at the Jewish Home—like when I walked around the halls wearing an N-95 mask with a Groucho nose and glasses on top. It looked pretty silly; residents kept asking me if I needed a second mask for the second nose!" Getting Jewish Home residents ready for the holiday did more than just spread happiness, Rabbi Bender says. "We connected our seniors with the calendar by reminding them of upcoming festivities. It gives them a sense of rootedness, and it allows them to have something to look forward to." At the Jewish Home, Purim itself—which coincides with Adar's full moon—brought a flurry of activity. "On the eve of Purim, thanks to our amazing dietary staff, residents were treated to a delicious Persian meal, in honor of where the story takes place, along with a hamantaschen [a special cookie in the shape of Haman's hat] for dessert," Rabbi Bender says. "The next morning, we distributed dress-up masks and noisemakers to residents, which they used during our holiday broadcast on the Jewish Home's in-house TV station." The broadcast featured videos and songs, as well as a reading of the entire Megillah [the Book of Esther, which relates the Purim tale]. "Residents were able to participate and follow along, knowing our entire community is doing it together," Rabbi Bender says. "What's also great is that you don't have to be Jewish to join in. Who doesn't love an uplifting story told through food and song?" The fun continued throughout the day with programs like a Shushan-themed Nosh & Nibble—a biweekly event where staff dress up in costumes and liven up the hallways of the Jewish Home with snacks and music. In keeping with strict safety protocols mandated by the pandemic, residents stayed in their rooms to maintain social distance. Staff also planned a hallway serenade and a program called "Cookie, Kibbitz, and Joke-Telling," which invited residents to join a conference call to share their favorite jokes with friends. At Eisenberg Village, campus Rabbi Ronald Goldberg helped spread the cheer by walking around dressed as a baseball player. Behind all the frivolity, Rabbi Bender sees a deeper, more significant meaning. "With the arrival of the vaccine, there's a real sense of relief at the Jewish Home right now, and the Purim story also ends with relief: Haman is gone, and the Jews will be okay," she says. "Now that cases of coronavirus are dropping, and with 99 percent of our residents vaccinated, it almost feels like the ‘Haman' from this year is gone." Although holding the virus at bay still requires Jewish Home residents and staff to be extremely cautious, Rabbi Bender says Purim brings welcome winds of change. "We've all had so much sorrow," she notes. "This year, Adar came just in time."

Welcoming and caring for new residents to the Los Angeles Jewish Home is the essence of our mission. Now, after a year-long pause in admissions caused by the global pandemic, the Jewish Home is excited to be accepting new residents once again, in addition to participants in our community-based programs. The news, says Dale Surowitz, CEO and president of the Jewish Home, is a breath of fresh air. "During COVID, we took every measure possible to ensure the continued health and safety of the seniors in our care, and that meant refraining from bringing people in—even visitors," he says. "But expanding our capacity to accommodate new residents is a vital part of our mission. Now that vaccines are here, and 99 percent of our residents have received both doses (as well as the large majority of our staff), we're reopening the admissions process so we can serve even more members of the community." That focus on service, Dale points out, is a key part of what distinguishes the Jewish Home from others—and what has long made it such a desirable place to live and receive care. "One of the things that makes the Jewish Home unique is the breadth of services we offer. From short-term rehab to hospice, independent living to home health, to memory care, we have the expertise to support our residents at their varying levels of need," he says. Skilled nursing is another stand-out strength of the Jewish Home, and there are immediate openings for seniors requiring hands-on skilled nursing assistance. "The Jewish Home typically has wait lists for available spaces in our skilled nursing facilities; it's uncommon to have availability as we currently do," Dale says. "This represents a rare opportunity for people to get into the Home now, before we reach capacity, which will happen quickly." What the residents will find at the Jewish Home, he notes, are skilled, compassionate, and dedicated staff who treat them like family—and a warm, nurturing environment that helps them make the most out of every day. Dale, who began in his current position last October, after a decade-plus involvement as a leadership volunteer on multiple Jewish Home boards, says there is no place quite like the Home. "As an acute care hospital CEO for over 30 years, I've had a chance to see people as they come into the hospital from various facilities," says Dale, who previously served as CEO of Providence Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "You can tell what kind of care they received before being admitted to the hospital, and it's obvious the Jewish Home is incredibly special, with talented and compassionate staff who are truly invested in the residents." There is another key component that sets the Jewish Home apart, Dale says: its emphasis on coordinated care. "Whether seniors want to age in place at home or in a skilled nursing facility, there is a real lack of coordinated services and information flow between various care providers," he observes. "The Jewish Home is stepping into that gap, making it seamless for seniors and giving them critical peace of mind." One example of the Jewish Home's innovation on that front is its recent launch of the Brandman Health Plan. Designed for the patient with chronic special needs, the plan offers benefits to anyone in Los Angeles County who is Medicare-eligible and has diabetes, chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disorders, or dementia. "Too often, these folks bounce between doctors' offices, and there's no communication going back and forth, so care providers can end up working at cross purposes," Dale says. "The Brandman Health Plan eliminates this problem, making sure our seniors get the right care, in the right place, at the right time." Residents of the Jewish Home, along with members of the larger community, also have access to services like the Brandman Centers for Senior Care, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Through this program, residents and others receive medical services, physical therapy, social services, and nutritional counseling, as well as exceptional adult day healthcare that engages them intellectually, physically, and socially. Dale says all of this adds up to make the Jewish Home unlike anyplace else—a prime destination for seniors across Los Angeles. "We're here for them, whoever they are and whatever their needs," he affirms. He looks forward to welcoming even more seniors into the Jewish Home family fold, and he encourages them to reach out and learn more. "We're eager to hear from new applicants," he says, "and can't wait to find out how we can help." For more information, go to lajhealth.org, or call 855-227-3745.

As senior residential care facilities nationwide have adapted and developed emergency protocols for administering the coronavirus vaccine, the Los Angeles Jewish Home has been at the forefront. Its secret weapon: an on-site pharmacy in one of its buildings, with a clinical pharmacy residency program that enables the Jewish Home to acquire, dispense, and monitor medications effectively and efficiently for the residents of that building. During the pandemic, the existence of this program has resulted in an organized vaccine clinic, allowing more people to get immunized, at a faster rate, than at many other senior care homes across California and around the country. "It's unusual for an organization like ours to have in-house pharmacists, but I believe it's the future for all long-term care facilities," says Noah Marco, MD, chief medical officer at the Jewish Home. "Among the many things doctors at a place like the Jewish Home do in caring for patients is prescribing needed medications, and as a physician I think there's no better resource than having a pharmacist stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you to improve care." Having an established pharmacy gave the Jewish Home an important advantage when it came time to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. "We were well positioned because we have essential equipment like medication refrigeration for the vaccine, and we also meet all the compliance requirements for pharmacies, which means we're able to handle and distribute the medication in the proper way," Dr. Marco says. "Many other facilities that had not invested in that process are currently struggling." The benefits go well beyond COVID-19, notes Aida Oganesyan, PharmD, the Jewish Home's director of pharmacy services. "The pharmacists are a timely resource for our clinicians where time is often of the essence," she says. "Since caring for Jewish Home residents is our full-time job, we can rapidly and proactively communicate important information when the prescriber and patient need it." Based at the Jewish Home's Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center, Dr. Oganesyan serves the entire organization, across multiple campuses. She got her start at the Home eight years ago, fresh out of pharmacy school. "I was the Jewish Home's first pharmacy resident, in 2013-14," she recalls. "Geriatrics had always been of interest to me, and when I heard about the program at the Home, I was immediately excited to learn more. As it turns out, I loved it so much, I decided to never leave!" The pharmacy residency program is a joint effort of the Jewish Home and Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) College of Pharmacy, located in Pomona. Each year, the program accepts one resident—a recent pharmacy school graduate—who spends 12 months at the Jewish Home gaining critical hands-on experience. WesternU also sends its current pharmacy students to the Jewish Home for six-week clinical rotations during the academic year. The program is run by Janice Hoffman, PharmD, who splits her time between WesternU and the Jewish Home. Dr. Hoffman says the Jewish Home has been an ideal site for this accredited residency program. "The Home is a special place. You feel part of the family here. And everybody wants to do what's best for the patient, regardless of what that requires. It's not stagnant, everyone is willing to try new ways, and there is a willingness to listen and adapt." Since the program launched in 2013, the clinical services that pharmacy residents provide at the Jewish Home have continued to grow exponentially. "In the beginning, we were just working with the Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (AGPU). Then we created an antibiotic stewardship program for our Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer (JEK) Medical Center residents. Our first project outside of the JEK building was an anticoagulation monitoring program that was developed for all Jewish Home nursing residents. After that, we pioneered a program wherein residents who experience a fall get a comprehensive medication evaluation by our pharmacists. Our current fellow, Rachel Stone, is running our new hypertension medication management program, which we're piloting in JEK to try to reduce the number of medicines seniors take and the number of times they have their blood pressure taken daily and weekly. Most people do not need to have their blood pressure measured as often as it typically is; perhaps once daily or weekly may be enough," Dr. Hoffman says. For Dr. Stone, who graduated with a PharmD from the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy at the University of Pacific in May 2020, being at the Jewish Home is an opportunity to develop her knowledge of geriatric psychiatry, which she plans to make her career specialty. "At AGPU, I'm able to participate in interdisciplinary team rounds with psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, activities coordinators and dieticians. It's great because I get to contribute my recommendations from a pharmacy perspective as I'm learning about the whole continuum of care," she says. She is also a central part of the Jewish Home's vaccination effort, supervising the pharmacy interns from WesternU and leveraging her expertise to help immunize residents and staff. "I always feel great when someone tells me they didn't feel anything after getting the COVID shot—it means I've done my best with my technique to make sure people don't get hurt!" she says. Dr. Stone administered the second dose of the vaccine to Dr. Marco. "While she was preparing the shot, I was reflecting on how unique the Jewish Home is," Dr. Marco says. "Through our fellowship and pharmacy, we're simultaneously able to help train up-and-coming professionals and to benefit our residents with access to a fully licensed pharmacist. As far as I'm concerned, it's just another reason the Jewish Home stands heads and shoulders above the rest!"

For their own health and safety, for approximately a year now, residents of the Los Angeles Jewish Home have not been able to venture far, or even welcome visits from family members, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, despite the required restrictions, activities staff and others have continued to work hard identifying safe ways to fill the days with lighthearted fun. As residents wait for the day they can all be together again, they have access to a broad range of activities to keep themselves engaged and entertained. "Helping our seniors stay active has been so critical throughout this past year," says Annette Weinberg, lifestyle and enrichment director for residential care, "so we've made sure to keep their calendars full. My goal is to have enough activities planned that, if they're so inclined, our residents can be occupied all day long." Annette has been working tirelessly to reach that goal, and the packed Jewish Home schedule of events is a testament to her success. For instance, every morning, residents can tune into the Home's in-house television channel for a therapeutic chair exercise class. Once they have warmed up with a workout, the pace of the day accelerates from there. One of Annette's most popular programs is the biweekly Nosh and Nibble, which incorporates costumes, music and food around a central theme. "Our most recent theme was 'Twist and Shout,'" she says. "Director of Volunteer Services Stacy Orbach, Lifestyle and Enrichment Assistant Sandy Schipper and I dressed up in 1950s attire —like poodle skirts and pink bomber jackets—and walked the hallways with a big boombox playing fun music of the 50's and giving out snacks. Of course, everyone is masked and physically distanced, but the idea is that residents can come to the doorways and enjoy a little levity. It's an incredibly uplifting event for us as well as for them." Phone-in activities also draw large numbers of residents. From Dial-a-Bingo to word games, to trivia contests, residents can participate in fun games and community building exercises from the safety of their own rooms. "One activity that always attracts a lot of our seniors is something I call ‘Today in History,' where I come up with 20 or 30 different things that happened on the same day but in different years, and we all discuss it," Annette says. "We also hear a great deal of positive response from ‘Hello Out There with Katie and Annette,' which is an informal, call-in support group for residents to share their feelings and know they are surrounded by people who care. My co-host for that is Katie Abelson, who is director of resident care services and a licensed social worker. We choose a new topic for each episode; our most recent one was, ‘Love is in the air. Do you feel it?'" This winter, the Home launched a journal writing class, helping residents find their inner author. "I'm really excited about it because it's something so different from the other activities we offer. It's an eight-week class, with a syllabus and a new topic every week," Annette says. The course allows for a broad diversity of creative expression. "Some of our residents are doing it because they want to track their diet, food or exercise; others are keeping dream journals or writing more of a straight diary. Whatever their motivation, it's super fun; I'm actually doing it, too!" Many residents look forward to movies being broadcast daily on the TVs in their rooms. They also eagerly anticipate Friday evenings, when they can tune into Shabbat services led by Skirball Director of Spiritual Life Rabbi Karen Bender and Eisenberg Village Rabbi Ronald Goldberg. "Residents enjoy the services' songs and prayers, exploring thought-provoking ideas with us," Rabbi Bender says. "One week, we might discuss the book of Exodus —in Hebrew that's ‘Shemot,' which means ‘names'—delving into why names matter; the next, we might engage residents in thinking about their favorite Jewish ritual or holiday." Rabbis Bender and Goldberg also lead residents in festive holiday celebrations, with activities that add depth of meaning to the daily schedule. For Tu B'shevat, also known as "the New Year of the Trees," Rabbi Bender planted a gorgeous Japanese maple in front of the Mark Taper Skilled Nursing Building at Grancell Village for residents to enjoy—and to help water and care for. At Eisenberg Village, Rabbi Goldberg planted a Blue Potato Bush tree in front of the Volunteer Office for residents to experience as well. For the upcoming holiday of Purim, the rabbis will air a special broadcast featuring a traditional megillah reading, and residents will receive hamantaschen, groggers and masks, delivered to their doors. "The personal delivery is a big part of what we do these days," Rabbi Bender says. "To offer human, one-on-one connections during these trying times is so important for our residents. Knowing we're here for them makes a really big difference in their outlook on life." With all of these activities, Annette says, there is something for every Jewish Home resident. Central to her success has been her strategic approach to planning. "We have an activities committee, and I'm always soliciting their feedback about whether something is working," she says. "So if I keep offering a program, it's because I know they enjoy it!" She also has other indications for making sure residents are having a good time. "I get lots of appreciative phone calls and notes from folks, which is wonderful," she says. "That tells me we're doing something right."

As a leader in senior healthcare in Southern California, the Los Angeles Jewish Home has expertise that can benefit the entire community. Bringing that expertise to new constituencies is the goal of the Jewish Home's popular Women's Health Series—informative and exciting discussions hosted by The Executives, one of the Jewish Home's premier support groups.(L-R) Nicole Minkow, Galit Linder, Michelle Weisman, Ronnie Retin, Orit Zeicheck and Lani Kreshick. Photo taken prior to COVID-19 pandemic. The Women's Health Series features prominent UCLA physicians partnering with the Jewish Home to cover timely topics related to women's health. The series—launched in 2019—was envisioned as a way for the Jewish Home to provide informative educational health programming for the benefit of women across Los Angeles. As initially conceived, the series consisted of in-person interactive luncheon events in the community. Over lunch, attendees would learn first-hand from leading physicians in their fields about a wide range of women's health issues, such as the aging process, along with the relationship between health and exercise. Participants also had an opportunity to hear from Noah Marco, MD, the Jewish Home's chief medical officer, while learning about how the Home plays a key role in the care of seniors throughout the community. "With the Women's Health Series, we strengthened our terrific partnership with UCLA and created a forum that discusses important health issues that, all too often, go under-addressed in our society," Dr. Marco said. "Our audience is educated by renowned clinicians, most of whom are women. Our discussions enhance our members' health and well-being as well as empower them in their future discussions with their own health care professionals." From the outset, the events were an immediate hit, selling out and bringing in more than 100 people each program. A big part of their appeal, notes Michelle Weisman, chair of the Women's Health Series and current president of The Executives, has been the sense of camaraderie the gatherings create. "It's a really great, feel-good space. Women have our own unique health issues, and it's so nice to be able to sit together and talk about them," she says. "What's also nice is that the audience crosses generational lines—we have women from age 40 and up. We also have access to the leading medical minds in the country." In addition to nurturing a supportive, positive environment for participants, the Women's Health Series also introduces more women to the impact the Jewish Home is having on the community. The Executives has traditionally been a more male-dominated group, something Michelle and her colleagues on the board have sought to change. "When I first joined The Executives in 2014, I knew I wanted to get more women involved," Michelle recalls. "It's such an extraordinary group, but historically it drew its members from the business world, which limited its reach and left many women on the sidelines. Consider that in its nearly 30 years of existence, I'm the first female president; that tells you we had work to do." The Women's Health Series has already helped the group make inroads. "My goal in launching the series was to have 50 new female members of The Executives, and we've done that," Michelle says. "We were gaining momentum when COVID-19 hit, which slowed us down somewhat." Not one to be easily deterred, Michelle immediately picked back up the pace. Although the pandemic put a temporary halt to in-person gatherings, the Women's Health Series events moved to the virtual realm, enabling women to continue benefitting from the educational and social component and providing—through the cost of admissions—vital support to help keep Jewish Home seniors safe and healthy. Women's Health Series members can look forward to upcoming programs including "Inflammation & the Female Body as We Age" (February 4th), "Hormones & Menopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know" (March 25th), and "Air Quality—What Are the Risks & How to Protect Yourself" (April 27th). All programs are currently taking place on Zoom. Once women get a taste of the Women's Health Series, Michelle hopes they will be compelled to keep coming back for more. "It's such a lovely group of people, and it's a wonderful side benefit to know you're helping seniors thrive," she says. "I think the women who join us will feel, as I do, that being part of the Jewish Home adds a real depth of meaning to their lives." To learn more about the Women's Health Series and The Executives, contact Cheryl Kater at [email protected] or at (818) 774-3331. Be part of The Executives' upcoming winter program! On February 11th, Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson will speak on "Helping Those Who Need Our Help the Most: the Work of Our Innocence Project." At this special event, admission is complimentary! Sign up now.

Building community is hard work—keeping it strong can be even more challenging, especially during a global pandemic, when health and safety limit person-to-person contact and relegate social interactions to virtual experiences such as Zoom and phone calls. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Jewish Home has a secret weapon: its warm, dedicated, dynamic clergy, who continue to engage, stimulate, comfort, and nurture Jewish Home residents and their families. The key to the job, says Rabbi Karen Bender, Skirball director of spiritual life at the Jewish Home, is always pushing for excellence. "These can be challenging times for everyone, but it's incumbent upon us to summon energy, creativity, and enthusiasm because our residents deserve the very best," she says. For Bender and her colleague Rabbi Ron Goldberg, rabbi of the Eisenberg Village campus, that means being creative and intentional about infusing daily life with meaning. "The question we've been asking ourselves is, 'Without physical gatherings, how can we still enrich and bring spiritual depth to our residents' lives?'" Rabbi Bender says. "The answer is by staying true to our north star: putting in every effort to make a difference where we can." Rabbi Bender's approach translates to seeking new opportunities for Jewish Home residents to increase their fulfillment and to maximize their enjoyment of each day. "We had a resident who needed a new mezuzah [a small scroll affixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes], so I got permission to go to her room. I stood outside of her door and hung the mezuzah, and as we said the blessing, our eyes made contact with one another through our PPE," she says. "I wasn't allowed to linger there, so I left, and we immediately got on the phone to chat. It was a beautiful experience because it acknowledged the importance of her Judaism and also showed her that the Jewish Home loves and cares for her." Stories like these, says Rabbi Bender, highlight a small silver lining amidst pandemic life: an emphasis on even more personalized care. "One-on-one is a big theme for us," she notes. "Since we can't get together in groups, Rabbi Ron and I need to be more dialed into what individual residents want and need." She offers another case in point. "During Chanukah, I passed by a resident's room and waved, and she called out to me, telling me how sad she was to have reached the seventh night of the holiday without touching a menorah with her own hands," she recalls. "I went home and found an extra one of mine, which I sanitized and gave to a nurse to deliver. I then called the resident on the phone and waited with her until she received my package, at which point we both lit our menorahs and said the blessings. In some ways, I think it meant more to her than if we had gotten together with a whole group of other residents because this was just about her. During our call, she was so moved, she started to cry." Rabbi Goldberg has been teaching residents over the phone, typically focused on topics like Shabbat and the Torah. Rabbi Bender recites the Kaddish memorial prayer and lights Yahrtzeit candles with residents by phone, as well. "Once we accepted our limitations in terms of what we can't do right now, it freed us up to focus on all the ways we can still connect with residents—and there are a lot of them," she says. The upcoming holiday of Tu B'shevat (on January 28), also known as "the New Year of the Trees," offers one example. "Rabbi Goldberg and I are creating a broadcast to go out over the Jewish Home's closed circuit television," she says. "We're going to do a fruit tasting with residents— they're going to get a delivery of seedless figs, mangos, tangerines, and grapes, as well as two different grape juices. So while we're eating the fruit on camera, they'll be able to do the same alongside us from the comfort of their rooms. We're also planting a tree on each campus. When it's safe for them to do so, residents can come out and help water and care for them. Our goal is for each resident to feel seen, heard, and loved." In addition to caring for residents, the rabbis also help minister to Jewish Home staff. "The work ethic at the Jewish Home is amazing. People here do more than just show up; they really give it their all, every day," Rabbi Bender says. "So taking care of the staff is a critical part of serving our whole community." Last fall, in coordination with the Human Resources Department, Rabbi Bender organized a healing service for Jewish Home staff, inviting a minister, a priest, and Muslim and Buddhist religious leaders to participate. "We're a diverse crew, honoring all denominations, so I wanted the service to reflect that," she says. "It gave us an opportunity to talk about healing from an interfaith perspective." More recently, the rabbis have been counseling staff who are fearful of taking the COVID-19 vaccine. "Some people say they don't need it because everything is in God's hands," Rabbi Bender says. "I try to help them see that faith in God and in the vaccine can be mutually compatible." Rabbi Goldberg has also been helping staff and residents fill out vaccine consent and authorization forms. "It's not something you'd typically think of as part of a rabbinic job, but it can be enormously comforting for our residents and staff to have us by their side as they prepare to do something new," he says. "Just being present is so important because we're able to tell them that what they're feeling is legitimate—and that we can face it together." With such an extensive list of things to do, the days are long for Rabbi Bender and Rabbi Goldberg— but they are keeping their heads up. "Our residents at the Jewish Home are just incredible," Rabbi Bender says, "and all of us staff are privileged to be doing our part to support them, especially during these challenging times."