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As any gardener knows, seeds can take root and thrive even under the most challenging conditions. Although the coronavirus pandemic has made socializing extremely difficult for Jewish Home residents, many have nurtured robust new friendships thanks to an innovative partnership between the Home and Builders of Jewish Education (BJE), an L.A.-based nonprofit that facilitates Jewish educational experiences from early childhood through high school. Earlier this summer, BJE Experiential Educator Michal Kress reached out to the Home about a potential month-long partnership focused on connecting Jewish teens and Jewish Home residents. The idea was simple: teens and seniors, both stuck at home with few outlets for socializing, could meet over Zoom and get to know one another. The result would be strong intergenerational relationships that fostered Jewish continuity and enriched all the participants' lives. Stacy Orbach, director of volunteer services at the Jewish Home, was enthusiastic about the program from the get-go. "Our residents have been lonely during the pandemic, and this presented such a wonderful opportunity for them to bond with people in the community," she says. "It also enabled residents to share their knowledge with teens – to pass on the wisdom they've accumulated throughout the course of their lives." The program paired eight Jewish Home residents with 15 teens from high schools across the city including De Toledo, Milken, Shalhevet, Cleveland and Notre Dame. During weekly Zoom chats lasting between 30 minutes and an hour, the residents and teens learned about each other, swapped stories, and even studied together. "One of the residents who participated was a Spanish teacher, and he started teaching the kids Spanish on his Zoom!" Orbach says. In addition to the Zoom calls, the teens also attended workshops to talk about what their time with the residents had taught them. The goal, says BJE's Kress, was to focus on the Jewish value of "lizkor" (to remember). "We asked the teens to think about what the Jewish Home residents want their legacy to be for future generations." At the end of the program, the teens wrote reflections about their experiences. "Over the past few weeks, I have learned not to take any moment for granted and to be thankful for the opportunities that come my way," wrote one student. "My partner showed me that, even through this very difficult time for all of us, we must be grateful because we are fortunate to be healthy and safe." Residents who participated used iPads donated by Jewish Home supporters, who purchased the equipment precisely so seniors at the Home could stay linked to the outside world. "The past months have been hard on our residents, and things like having ‘face-to-face' conversations can make such a difference," says Corey Slavin, the Home's vice president of community engagement. "With the iPads, our donors are helping residents stay happy, healthy, and optimistic about the future." Although summer has come to a close and the new academic year has begun, a number of the students plan to stay in touch with their new Jewish Home friends even as they balance schoolwork and other activities. "We had to say our official ‘goodbyes' before the kids returned to their classes," Orbach says, "but I've heard from a number of participants in the program that these friendships were built to last!" For more information about exploring partnerships like this with the Jewish Home, contact Stacy Orbach at (818) 774-3219 or [email protected].

What better way to bring joy and comfort to a senior's life than to write them a Note of Love? While recent months have required the Jewish Home to curtail visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every effort is being made to keep the residents not only safe and healthy, but also engaged, active and entertained. One great way we can all take part is by sending Notes of Love to the residents. Notes of Love is a creative and simple way to say you care while making a tremendous difference in the day of a Senior. Whether or not you have a loved one or a friend at the Jewish Home, or have been looking to make a difference during this difficult time, sending a Note of Love is a way to say you care. There is no minimum age requirement to send in your "note" and you don't need to be an artist—adults and kids alike are encouraged to write a note, draw/paint a picture, or make a photo collage. Your Notes of Love will demonstrate to our Seniors that they are being thought of with love during this time. Once your "note" is received by the Jewish Home, we will distribute and post them throughout our campuses providing our residents with a virtual hug from the community. There is no need to put a specific date or name on the communication as we will share them broadly at our various sites over the coming weeks. To participate, simply send your creation to Stacy Orbach C/O Los Angeles Jewish Home, 7150 Tampa Avenue, Reseda, CA 91335 or send via email to [email protected]. And remember to share your act of kindness by tagging us @lajewishhome.

The siddurim, or prayer books, at the Los Angeles Jewish Home were worn with over three generations of use, lovingly touched by thousands of hands over the years. Through countless Shabbat and holiday services, the siddurim provided a foundation for seniors and their families to pray, celebrate, and mourn. Now, through the generosity of supporters of the Jewish Home, the residents have new siddurim, ready to serve them for many years to come. Rabbi Karen Bender, Skirball Director of Spiritual Life, explains how this came to be. “When my predecessor, Rabbi Anthony Elman, began his retirement, he left behind his Rabbi’s discretionary fund. After many discussions about how to best use these funds, we agreed the purchase of new siddurim would benefit our seniors in so many ways.” And they are more than just new. While the prayer books are Conservative-based, as were the ones they replaced, they offer several important improvements: Transliteration: Many of our seniors who enjoy coming to services read English only. The most significant parts of the service are now available in transliteration so everyone can participate. Gender inclusive language: The new siddurim avoids referring to G-d as “Him” and uses more inclusive language, such as referring to our foremothers by name in addition to our forefathers. Contemporary translations: The prayer books offer accessible, modern and poetic English translations and readings that are very spiritually uplifting. A great deal of research and effort went into selecting the siddurim. “We were careful to consider the size and weight of the book, as well as font boldness and clarity in both Hebrew and English,” says Rabbi Bender. “As you can imagine, there were many to choose from. I requested input from our seniors and Rabbi Ron Goldberg of the Eisenberg Village campus. In the end, we chose the 2016 printing of Siddur Hadash.” Fortunately, the discretionary fund was large enough to purchase siddurim for both campuses, which is especially important due to the fluidity of our seniors between campuses. In honor of Rabbi Elman, who is remembered with great fondness by both Jewish Home seniors and staff, a bookplate was placed in each siddurim, thanking him for his years of services. “It’s a “Shehecheyanu” moment,” exclaims Rabbi Bender, “a moment of arriving at a special time!”

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has complicated romance around the world, but for Howard and Sheila Krupnick, love is everlasting—and a rose called by any other name would smell as sweet. The dedicated couple recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary at the Jewish Home with a visit lifted right out of Shakespeare. When they first moved into the Jewish Home, Howard and Sheila were on different campuses due to the specialized care each required. However, the staff at the Home was determined to get them closer to one another, ultimately orchestrating a move that located them both in Eisenberg Village: Howard in the Newman Building and Sheila in the Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center. Then COVID-19 struck, limiting the movement of residents as the Jewish Home worked tirelessly keeping staff and residents healthy and safe. Though they were now on the same campus, the threat of the coronavirus kept them confined to their respective rooms. "The Krupnicks have a special connection, and it was tough to see them apart," recalls Kathleen Glass, Eisenberg Village's executive director. "As their anniversary approached, we knew it was time to get creative to find a safe way to bring them together." Given the challenges of COVID-19, the reunion would have to be distanced— neither Howard nor Sheila could risk getting sick. But logistics were on their side: Glass realized that Sheila's location, on the second floor of Goldenberg•Ziman, would give her access to an upper-level outdoor patio—an ideal vantage point from which to gaze down at Howard, who could sit on a chair just below. Then the planning began. "Our social worker went to the store to pick up balloons and flowers," Glass says. "When it was time for the meeting, our team brought the two of them to their designated spots, outfitted in PPE. Howard had a face shield, and Sheila had a mask, but the protective equipment didn't stop them from blowing kisses to each other." What unfolded next was what Glass calls the couple's Romeo and Juliet moment. Howard asked Sheila if she would marry him again; her resounding "yes" was strong and steady as it carried down from the floor above. Extending the magic of the moment, Eisenberg Village Campus Rabbi Ron Goldberg led the couple in renewing their marriage vows. "It was really beautiful on so many levels," Glass notes. "Sheila has dementia, but when she saw Howard, she absolutely lit up. You could see it from two stories away." Glass says the event also provided a necessary boost for members of the Jewish Home staff. "Watching them together made a real impact on our team. We must face COVID-19 every day. Seeing Howard and Sheila interact was heartwarming and renewed our motivation to do what we do best: taking care of our residents and helping them fill their lives with as much love as possible during a time when so many things are being taken away from them because of the pandemic." For Glass, the celebration was a reminder of another famous literary pronouncement, this one penned by the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer. "Howard and Sheila's story has an important lesson for every one of us," Glass says. As Chaucer wrote,"Love conquers all!"

Many of us are still reeling from the devastating news of the synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh. Our hearts go out to the family members of the victims and our prayers are with the injured and all who are in need of healing. The Jewish Community is shaken by the event, which is the most violent incident against Jewish Americans in the history of the United States. We are devastated that this has happened. The Los Angeles Jewish Home's Holocaust survivors are particularly upset by the news. If only the attack of the Tree of Life congregation was in a vacuum, but we have learned there was a 58% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes just last year. Hate crimes against many other groups have increased, too. What to do about this growing climate of intolerance of the "other"? George Washington put the answer so brilliantly when he wrote a letter to the Touro Synagogue of Rhode Island in 1790. He said, "It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States… gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." George Washington promised us an America where intolerance would be abolished. And he went even further. He believed that tolerance was not enough. Because tolerance is the idea that the majority of the people somehow have the ability to "tolerate" a minority they may even dislike. Washington was effectively asking, "Who are you to tolerate them?" Rather, we all have equal and inherent rights. We are all entitled to safety, freedom and respect. Has the America of 2018 forgotten this 1790 ideal and abandoned George Washington's promise? Perhaps. But Judaism has not. Everyone is familiar with the commandment from the Torah to "Love thy Neighbor" (Leviticus 19:18). And there is that old joke that it is easy to love humankind but hard to get along with the guy next door. Torah commands us to love our neighbor and, even more importantly, to love the stranger! We must not just tolerate, but love the other: love the one who is different; love the one with a different skin color; love the one who has an accent; love the one with different customs; love the one with different beliefs; love the one who is not from here. Has the America of 2018 forgotten these ideals of tolerance and love which are echoed not only in Jewish ethics but in the principles of all the major religions? Perhaps, but perhaps not. Did you hear about Wasi Mohamed, executive director of the Islamic Center for Pittsburgh? He announced funds were being raised by the Muslim community toward the care and support of the local Jewish community of Pittsburgh. Indeed, as of October 29th, two Muslim organizations raised nearly $200,000. One of the fundraisers, Tarek El-Messidi, posted these words, "Muslims: Let us stand with our Jewish cousins against this senseless, anti-Semitic murder." I am so touched. Now that is America! At this time of concern and fear, we need to take seriously the rise of anti-Semitism, specifically, and of bigotry in general. But we also need to celebrate the solidarity of the entire Jewish community and take in the outpouring of love from our fellow citizens who are expressing their friendship and concern. We will not be intimidated and we will not give in to fear. As our people have always done, we will respond with courage, love and hope. We will remember we are not alone. We will overcome this together.

Four new paratransit shuttle buses, whose purchase was funded by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, (Metro) were recently delivered to the Los Angeles Jewish Home. They join a fleet of shuttles utilized daily to transport more than 240 community residents to medical appointments, deliver meals and safely transport seniors to and from the Home’s Brandman Centers for Senior Care. While several leaders from Metro have been working from home since the outbreak of Covid-19, they traveled to the Los Angeles Jewish Home, as they felt it was important to help celebrate the recent grant award which enabled the Home to purchase four new paratransit shuttle buses. The grant award of $259,200 funded the purchase of four paratransit buses to continue and expand Los Angeles Jewish Home capacity for transporting seniors to and from critical services, both residents of Los Angeles Jewish Home and those living in the surrounding community. These new buses are critical to the care provided by the Home. The Brandman Center features a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), providing a broad range of benefits including high-quality, comprehensive medical and social services to seniors aged 55 and older. Services available at the Center allow seniors independence in the comfort of their own homes, even when health challenges may make them eligible for nursing home care. The Center offers a full continuum of care including: on-site primary medical care, preventive health services; physical rehabilitation; social work services; nutritional counseling; medications; supplies; and Adult Day Health Care filled with stimulating activities. These shuttles are equipped with special features such as electronic lifts for the ease of those requiring wheelchair access. Present at the small, safe distance, event, held in front of two of the new shuttle buses, from Metro’s Countywide Planning and Development, Grants Management and Oversight department were: Executive Director, Shawn Atlow; Senior Director, Adam Stephenson; Senior Manager Anne Flores; and Manager Ruben Cervantes. Also joining the celebration was CEO and President of the Jewish Home Dale Surowitz and Steve Klappholz, Vice President of the Jewish Home Foundation. In recognizing the grant award Dale said, "We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with Metro. Its ongoing support and assistance is helping to empower the seniors of this community to receive the vital support and health care they need, while also enabling them to continue residing in their own homes. This is truly a win-win for the seniors of Los Angeles." "Metro is proud to partner with the wonderful Los Angeles Jewish Health programs that we were are able to support by leveraging Federal Transit Administration funds," said Shawn Atlow, Executive Officer for Grants Management and Oversight for Metro’s Countywide Planning & Development Department. "The Los Angeles Jewish Health leadership and staff graciously hosted Metro staff to see firsthand the impact of these investments. Metro is dedicated to improving mobility for all individuals throughout the County, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Los Angeles Jewish Health." The Home’s partnership with Metro illustrates Metro’s commitment to meeting transportation needs where and when they are needed, especially during these challenging time.

Men’s Health Month is celebrated each June with health, education and outreach activities, screenings, and health fairs. The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Men and women face many of the same health challenges, such as: maintaining a healthy diet and weightexercising regularly to keep our bodies strong and functioning at their bestgetting enough sleep, at least 7-9 hours each nightquitting smoking to lower risk of heart and lung diseases and cancercoping with stress While the life expectancy gap between men and women has decreased, women still live an average of 5.2 years longer than men. In general, men tend to smoke and drink more than women and often don’t seek medical attention as often as women. There are also health conditions that only affect men, such as prostate and testicular cancers. According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, here are 10 cancer symptoms men should be aware of and seek medical attention for right away: Abnormal lump: a mass or lump in the breast, testicles, lymph nodes and soft tissues such as tendons and ligamentsChanges in testicles such as a change in size or if they feel swollen or heavyChanges in restroom habits including increased frequency, pain when going, blood in urine or stool, persistent diarrhea or constipationChanges in your skin such as unusual bleeding, scaling or sores that do not heal as well as warts, moles and freckles that change color, size or shapeIndigestion or trouble swallowing, such as a prolonged painful burning sensation in your throat or chestPersistent cough or hoarseness, wheezing, shortness of breath or coughing up bloodChanges in your mouth, including white patches, sores, unexplained bleeding, numbness or tenderness of tongue, cheeks and lipsUnexplained weight loss not due to change of diet or exercise routineConstant fatigue regardless of how much rest you getPersistent pain such as back pain, headache or stomach ache can often be the first sign that something is wrong. So, men! Please use Men’s Health Month to schedule a medical checkup with your doctor and take a personal inventory of your current overall health and lifestyle. Many health issues can be treated and resolved with early detection, and that begins with you!

The Los Angeles Jewish Home welcomes visitors from around the world on a regular basis. Recently, Ava Goldberg or, as she's known in Israel, Aviva, stopped by to tour the Home. Until her recent retirement, Ava served as the Head of Social Services for the Elderly for the City of Jerusalem and the Mayor's Consultant on issues of older people in the city. In retirement Ava will be living part-time in Jerusalem and part-time in Los Angeles. "I am really interested in the field and that's the background for this visit," she explained. Ava toured the GV campus and was quite impressed with the Home and with two things in particular. "One is the scope of thought to both community care and institutional care and the diversity of service. This is extremely impressive. I would like to adopt some of that for Israel. There's also a coordination between community and institutional which we don't have much of in Israel and certainly not in Jerusalem and I'd like to see more of that in Israel," she noted. "The other thing I'm impressed with is how the workers are being treated – are they smiling or not. And (at the Home) there is a whole bunch of smiling faces around here. This is obviously a very good place to be both for the client/patient and for the workers as well. Those two things impressed me tremendously," she noted. In explaining the differences between senior care in Israel and Los Angeles, Ava said: "Israel is a small country with a small elderly population. Jerusalem has 9% of the population is over the age of 65 which is small by standards now. So we are just getting into services for the elderly. We don't have an umbrella for services for the elderly. Unfortunately its split between two government ministries and the municipalities which is not good for the services. So we need more coordination of services."

My name is Bertha Bernstein. I'm 92 years old and a resident of the Jewish Home. I grew up in L.A., married Max Bernstein, and had three wonderful sons, Steven, Jeffrey, and Michael. Sadly, Jeffrey passed away when he was 39. For many years, I worked at a local Jewish newspaper, the Heritage Jewish Press, from which I retired at age 70. Just a year ago, my sons Michael and Steven were terribly worried about me, and wanted me to move out of my home and into assisted living. Circulation issues were affecting my balance, and I took several falls. I wanted to stay in my home, so I kept all of this from my sons. But my oldest son, Michael, knew I was suffering from heart failure and shortness of breath from lung cancer. Still, I fought my sons every step of the way! For many of us in our 80s and 90s, giving up our independence is the hardest decision we ever have to make. Now, every time Michael or Steven comes to visit me at the Jewish Home, I thank them for making me see the light. I was such a mess after my heart valve operation. Matthew and Michelle, my physical therapists at the Home, would try to get me to walk, and I would tell them, "I can't." But they said, "You can do it! You've got this!" And they were right every time. They really saved my life! Thanks to the Home, my symptoms are under control, and I have the energy to take part in all kinds of activities like yoga, movie nights, bingo, and current events classes. I can honestly say, getting into the Home when I did was the best decision we ever made.

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