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Until recently, I never fully appreciated how eyes can smile. I knew that eyes could see. I even knew that eyes could connect, as when two people really pay attention to one another. Over this past year, eyes over masks that conveyed sadness and longing had been heavy for our hearts to bear. We all know this—we have been in it together. So you can imagine how exhilarating it has been, over these past few weeks, to witness smiling eyes. Family visitors smile with their eyes, staff smile with their eyes, and most importantly, our residents are smiling again, even if with their eyes. "Open my eyes that I may perceive the wonders of Your teaching," says the Psalmist (119:18). Learning in person, not only in some schools, but also here at the Home has resumed. Recently, I was teaching a class about Jewish views on justice. A resident became so excited as she shared her opinions and ideas that she started to pull down her mask. For a split second, I saw that she was wearing lipstick! Even though she wears a mask and we cannot typically see her smiling mouth, she could see her own lips. I reassured her, "You can keep your mask on. I can hear you with my ears and by looking at your eyes." Coming soon is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, the holiday when we stand again at Mount Sinai, as it were, and joyfully accept the Torah and Ten Commandments as our ancestors did originally. In light of the upcoming holiday I want to share with you what I have seen and what I see now at our extraordinary Los Angeles Jewish Home. Remember at Passover, we used our imaginations to "remember" we were slaves in Egypt? We remembered that bitterness of slavery and the sense of longing to leave those terrible conditions. COVID-19 was a sort of Egypt for our residents, as their normal activities and freedoms were unavailable for their own safety. After Passover, we count the days to Shavuot. We continue in the realm of imagination. Sure, we were slaves, but now we are free. We have a purpose, to journey towards the promised land. And on that journey we stand together at Mount Sinai, connected with each other and with G-d, to receive the Torah. The eyes of joy that I see today remind me of the exhilaration of Mount Sinai. It is as if a light that had been a bit dimmed has begun to burn brighter, like the rays of light radiating above the eyes of Moses as he comes down the mountain to present the gift. Thank you to all of you who have given the gift of visits, support, and love of the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Those smiling eyes are in large part because of you. Rabbi Karen Bender

Just before the New Year, after months of heartbreak, worry, illness, and even death—stretching across every country and carried there by an unprecedented pandemic—people were finally given the most precious gift of the holiday season: hope. Weeks ago, the long anticipated news came out that there was emergency authorization for vaccines to beat back COVID-19. On December 30, the first shipments of Moderna's vaccine arrived at the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Like the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna vaccine received emergency authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Federal and state officials have designated long-term care residents and staff of senior living facilities as priority recipients of the vaccine, further indicating that those who reside or work specifically within skilled nursing areas should be first to receive it. All others living and working at the Jewish Home are expected to receive their first dose of the two-dose regimen within the coming weeks. First shipment of Moderna vaccine arrives at the Jewish Home. Noah Marco, MD, the Jewish Home's chief medical officer, says the arrival of these vaccines is an extremely positive development that will save lives. "Efficiently progressing with immunizations of residents and the staff who care for them will help protect the seniors in our care," he says. "Now that we have begun receiving shipments, I encourage everyone eligible to receive the vaccine to do so. Receiving the vaccine is is extremely important both for the individual receiving it and for the greater community." Dr. Marco acknowledges there will be some initial hesitation about taking the vaccine, but stresses that people should have confidence in the FDA approval process. "The FDA's official sanction is recognized around the world as the gold standard," he says. "In addition, the safety of the vaccine is continually being monitored to ensure even very rare side effects are identified." Boxes of the COVID-19 vaccine are unwrapped. There are only four medical reasons someone should not get the COVID-19 vaccine: if they have had a severe allergic reaction to components of the vaccine; if they are already actively sick with COVID-19; if they have received monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma treatment in the last 90 days; or if they have gotten any potential contradicting vaccine in the last 14 days. For everyone else, Dr. Marco says, the universal benefits of the vaccine are clear. "The bottom line is that the vaccine has been proven to work," he says. "I've heard from some people asking whether it might not be better to get the virus naturally and to build up immunity that way, and the evidence against this is indisputable: The data show that natural immunity is simply not as good as immunity from the vaccine." There are other, equally compelling, reasons to get the vaccine. "Healthy people die from COVID-19, and survivors can experience serious and life-changing medical complications that can significantly damage their brain, lungs, and heart," Dr. Marco says. President and Chief Executive Officer Dale Surowitz receives his vaccine at end of the day to encourage others to roll up their sleeves. Dr. Marco is also emphatic about why getting the vaccine is the responsible thing to do for the broader community. "We all live together in society, and we have a collective responsibility to protect not just our own lives, but also the lives of people we interact with every day," he says. "By getting the vaccine, we dramatically reduce the chances of a person getting the virus and passing it along to someone else. And that means fewer people will die." As Dr. Marco sees it, this all adds up to one obvious conclusion: getting vaccinated is the right—and best—thing to do. For that reason, he says, he has been repeating the same phrase over and over to anyone who will listen. "It's my new mantra," he says. "Don't hesitate; vaccinate!" The timeline for administering the vaccine at the Jewish Home is aggressive, and as always, notes Dale Surowitz, the Home's President and CEO, safety and caution are paramount. "We immunized significant numbers of staff and residents over the New Year's holiday, and plan to complete the majority of first phase vaccinations for skilled nursing staff and skilled nursing residents as quickly as possible during January," he says. "Other residents, patients, and staff will be administered the vaccine as soon as the doses are made available, consistent with federal government phasing requirements." Jewish Home Resident and Holocaust survivor Edith Frankie receives one of the first doses of the Moderna vaccine at the Home This is exciting news for Jewish Home residents, who have experienced ongoing challenges throughout the past year as a result of important safety precautions that have limited their interactions with others outside of the Home, including direct contact with their own family members. The wait for a vaccine has been long, yet seniors at the Home have borne it with characteristic grace and resilience. They have also managed to put it all in perspective. Edith Frankie, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps and a resident at the Jewish Home, says, "This shall pass. People don't like restrictions. Me? I'm used to it. Staying in our rooms is not so hard in comparison." It is this kind of strong determination that has been on display at the Jewish Home throughout the pandemic. As always, our residents are setting an example for everyone to follow.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti conducted his daily COVID-19 media briefing for the community at the Los Angeles Jewish Home's Grancell Village campus on May 19. In his briefing, held on the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Courtyard in front of the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center, Mayor Garcetti highlighted the city's monthly COVID-19 testing requirement for skilled nursing facilities. In addition, he invited the Home's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Noah Marco to share the podium to emphasize the importance of testing. Garcetti described the Jewish Home as "one of the pillars of our community, which for so many years has brought health, hope and well-being into the lives of Angelenos." The Mayor detailed the immense challenges facing skilled nursing facilities during the pandemic. He outlined how the Home met these challenges by being the first to test its residents and staff, serving as a model for other institutions to follow. During his comments, Dr. Marco explained the importance of testing. "Our focus for these tests was to identify staff and residents who were not displaying symptoms of the disease," he said. "Like many others, we knew that the virus is brought into nursing homes by asymptomatic staff and spread by asymptomatic residents. The tests provided to us by Mayor Garcetti found 12 asymptomatic staff and four asymptomatic residents. Because of our testing efforts and our focus on infection prevention, we have had a total of only 19 confirmed infections in our 1200 residents." "Our experience proves that nursing homes do not have to be death pits," Dr. Marco continued. "We encourage all facilities to follow Mayor Garcetti's orders, and test their staff and residents. If test kits are available, not testing is medically unethical and just plain wrong." In late March, State Senator Henry Stern alerted Garcetti that Dr. Marco recommended testing be expanded to seniors living in congregant housing. Garcetti's office responded by asking the Home to pilot testing staff and residents of skilled nursing facilities. The Mayor's office provided the test kits and testing began on April 2. The program was later expanded to include Los Angeles Fire Department's Rapid Response Team and its mobile testing program. Further recognizing Dr. Marco's leadership and medical expertise -- Garcetti described how Dr. Marco partnered with city officials to help identify additional facilities in Los Angeles also in need of COVID-19 testing, and thanked him for his invaluable advice he has provided to his office. An emergency order from the mayor on April 24, required all skilled nursing homes in Los Angeles to conduct testing on a monthly basis. To schedule COVID-19 testing, visit https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs Watch Mayor Garcetti's entire May 19 briefing here: https://youtu.be/3EHPjqYnQDQ?t=235

The Los Angeles Jewish Home has built a national reputation for excellence in the provision of quality senior care. That reputation continues to grow: Newsweek recently released its third annual ranking of the country’s best nursing homes, and the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center’s skilled nursing facility, located on the Grancell Village Campus of the Jewish Home, has made the list. “The Best Nursing Homes 2022” highlights the top nursing homes in the 25 states with the biggest population, according to the US Census Bureau. Scores were based on three key indicators: performance data (as detailed by the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), a reputation survey, and each facility’s COVID-19 response. “We are so pleased to receive this recognition for the programs and services we provide at the Jewish Home,” says Dale Surowitz, the Home’s chief executive officer and president. “It is a testament to the hard work of our incredibly dedicated and highly skilled staff – and to the partnership with our board members and donors, whose passion and energy continue to inspire us every day.”

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.

Each April, organizations around the country celebrate National Volunteer Week, recognizing the hardworking people who give their time and energy to make a positive difference in their communities. Volunteers at the Los Angeles Jewish Home go above and beyond—and this year, we salute their service with particular gratitude for their efforts to keep our seniors safe and healthy during the pandemic. "On an annual basis, we typically benefit from approximately 500 volunteers," says Stacy Orbach, the Jewish Home's director of volunteer services. "In addition to individuals, we also receive volunteer assistance from school groups, synagogue and church groups, fraternities and sororities, summer camps, companies, and more. They represent a wide range of backgrounds and ages. It's so wonderful to see people come together to enrich our residents' lives." COVID-19 complicated volunteer work at the Jewish Home, but volunteers persevered. Although in-person visits to the Home were temporarily not allowed as a safety measure, volunteers found creative ways to keep giving back, letting residents know they had not been forgotten. "It's been a challenging time, and volunteers haven't been able to come on our campuses, but they've still 'shown up' in many amazing ways," Stacy says. "Volunteers collected special items that our residents love, including cute calendars and sweet treats, delivered them with love. When the quarantine began, and there was a need for masks and gowns, I posted our need on the websites of local sewing groups, and suddenly we had 50 or 60 people donating their talents and sending us homemade/sewn facemasks. The community of volunteer seamstresses also sewed thousands of sleeves onto hospital gowns as part of the Home's 'Gown Kit' campaign. We also have one volunteer who comes by every month to change residents' watch batteries, free of charge—she sets up a little workshop in her car." The volunteers' generosity, Stacy says, has been incredible. "One member of The Guardians support group works for an online flower company. She said she wanted to send us roses for Love and Friendship Day, which we celebrate every February 14th. I shared that in order for every resident to get one flower, we'd require 500 of them; she sent us 800 entire bouquets instead," she enthuses. "Our residents were overwhelmed with the kindness—it was so meaningful for them!" Stacy says she has been moved by all of the volunteers staying in touch. "I have volunteers emailing me and asking when they will be able to return to their volunteer positions with the residents. They're eager to resume the valuable work they do and to contribute to the well-being of our residents. They're also anxious to assist our staff, whom they know are putting in so many hours to make sure residents are well-cared for and happy," she says. Typically, during National Volunteer Week, the Jewish Home organizes an in-person volunteer appreciation lunch, complete with speeches from Jewish Home leadership, thanking the volunteers for their ongoing support. This year, Stacy says, will be different but no less heartfelt. "We still can't meet in person, but we want our volunteers to know how much we value them, so we're sending them certificates of acknowledgement along with 'Outstanding Volunteer' lapel pins," she says. "Once they're able to come back on campus, they'll be able to wear the pins proudly, and everyone will know what heroes they are!" The Jewish Home is always looking to expand our family of volunteers. To learn how to get involved, contact Stacy Orbach at [email protected].

In honor of National Friendship Day, which falls on Sunday, August 7th this year, we celebrate the friendships that enhance the lives of seniors everywhere. The intimacy of a relationship with a good friend is wonderful enough to bring pleasure to people of all ages. Seniors who maintain close friendships, however, enjoy a world of benefits to their health, happiness and overall well-being. “For seniors the health benefits of friendships are invaluable,” says Jewish Home Chief Medical Officer Dr. Noah Marco. “When aging adults maintain strong social connections they tend to get more mental and physical stimulation— both are essential for healthy aging. Other physical benefits include lower blood pressure, a boosted immune system, and reduced risk of depression, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease.” The Jewish Home's Eisenberg Village residential care social worker Thelma Mata says, “Friendships can improve one’s attitude, behavior, and outlook on life. This type of special connection can also help seniors prevent isolation and depression.” Seniors in residential care at the Eisenberg Village campus have endless opportunities to gather, interact, and engage with others. Throughout the campus’ living spaces, they can be seen in pairs and groups, enjoying each other’s company. From enjoying a delicious meal in the dining room to playing an exciting game of Bingo, joining the Book Club to attending a Shabbat service, making jewelry in Arts and Crafts to volunteering in the post office— every moment is a chance to find and foster friendship. “The Home is the perfect environment for seniors to stay socially engaged,” says residential care activities aide Anna Kocis. “With so many programs, activities and events for our residents to take part in, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Once seniors start becoming active in the community, they realize they share common experiences and interests and begin to form lasting friendships. These relationships form the basis of a life-enhancing experience.” Jewish Home residents Grace Peshkin and Myrtle Feenberg are a perfect example of this. When Grace and Myrtle first moved to Eisenberg Village seven years ago, they knew they were meant to become good friends. “I remember it all so clearly,” says Myrtle. “We moved in around the same time and Grace was one of the first people I ever spoke to.” “From the very beginning we started spending a lot of time together,” Grace recalls. “It all started when we realized we had so much in common. We both love shopping, sharing, and conversation.” “It’s been wonderful! We confide in each other, and give one another advice. Sometimes our opinions differ and we argue, but we’re still friends,” says Myrtle. “It’s funny, we’re just like sisters!” This National Friendship Day, remember the importance of senior friendships. Make the decision to foster the strong, long-lasting relationships that lead to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Rose Geller, Claire Wilen, and Jane Spitzer For the ladies in the Needle Arts Group at the Los Angeles Jewish Home's Fountainview at Eisenberg Village, knitting is a powerful expression of love. Each Thursday, approximately 6-8 residents gather in the Creative Arts Center to give back to the community—and to enjoy a little 'schmoozing' along the way. The group was formed by Fountainview at Eisenberg Village resident Reggie Scheer in 2010, originally as a gathering of experienced knitters (or those interested in learning how to get started) who would bring items they had made –baby outfits, infant hats, and sweaters—for "show and tell". Soon after the group's establishment, its members decided to focus on volunteerism, using their dexterity and style to fashion articles of clothing for people in distress and need. As a first step, the group affiliated itself with Operation Gratitude, a high-impact nonprofit organization benefitting US military overseas. Needle Arts members knitted items for soldiers and made trips to the local armory, where they would help package goods being sent to troops abroad. Needle Arts Group member Claire Wilen, then reached out to her daughter-in-law, Lisa Wilen, to start a relationship with UCLA Health. Lisa is Director of Operations for Hematology/Oncology in the Community Practices division for Central and Southern California. Today, the group supports UCLA patients, who may lose their hair due to chemotherapy, with handmade caps to keep them warm. "The caps are well-received and greatly appreciated by our patients," Lisa says. "The patients are always so impressed with the quality and quantity of caps, which I distribute to our 19 oncology offices. In fact, I receive messages from our nurses when their stock is running low! What the Needle Arts Group does touches the hearts of all who benefit." One of those beneficiaries is Susan Bruer, a patient at UCLA Oncology Center in San Luis Obispo. "I recently picked out a very attractive hat made by (Needle Arts Group member) Rose Geller," Susan says. "The hats are very attractive and are very much appreciated during chemotherapy treatment." As Rose Geller sees it, she is doing more than just knitting a cap. "When a person is hurting and they get a handmade hat, it touches them, and they know someone cares," she says. Claire and fellow knitter Jane Spitzer, also participate in Myra's Knitting Mavens, a group at Valley Beth Shalom synagogue in Encino. Sometimes, the Needle Arts crew coordinates volunteer efforts with the Mavens. "One time, we got a special request to knit a cap for someone's brother who was very sick," Claire recalls. "He had requested his Oregon State school colors. I knitted the cap, which he loved, and later I learned the young man was doing much better following his treatments." Other projects have included knitting hats for Israeli army soldiers. "We had to be careful not to make them with bright colors, so the soldiers wouldn't stand out as targets when they were on duty," recalls Needle Arts Group member Sue Richter. They also helped create blankets for children being housed in immigration centers at the US border. The ladies in the group spend their own money to purchase yarn, but during the pandemic, they received abundant yarn donations, as many people were cleaning out their closets. "They are incredibly grateful for all the contributions of yarn," says Annette Weinberg, campus lifestyle and enrichment director at the Jewish Home's Eisenberg Village. For information about the Needle Arts Group, contact Annette at (818) 654-5535 or [email protected].

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.

Helen Starlight and Ellen Meli knew they were beginning a wonderful, caring friendship almost immediately. Ellen recounts the day, just a few months ago, when Helen accidently bumped into her. Ellen says she was almost knocked over, but the sincerity and warmth in Helen’s apology, in just a few soft-spoken words, said it all. Shortly after, they requested to become roommates and they truly feel blessed to call one another roommate and friend. They share a number of things in common. First and foremost, each woman is a proud mother and grandmother. They are also both women who worked outside of the home for many years, helping to support their families. Helen, who speaks English, Spanish and Hebrew, was an office manager for her husband’s dental practice. Ellen was owner and publisher of Welcome Homeowner magazine and a successful business consultant. Now they reside in the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center, a skilled nursing facility on the campus of the Los Angeles Jewish Home. While each previously lived in various locations at the Jewish Home to meet their evolving care needs, and they roomed with other individuals along the way, both agree this meeting, at this time, was meant to be. They have only been roommates for a few months; however, as they sit side-by-side, they already complete each other’s sentences like a couple who has been married for years. At the same time, when they describe one another, it’s more like newlyweds, each beaming when listing off the attributes that make their relationship special. Words like "understanding," "patient," "caring," and "loving" are used several times during the conversation—and throughout most of their interview, they are holding hands. At 65, Helen is the younger of the roommates. Daily, she faces the challenges of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that today has no known cure. However, when she describes her condition, it is with amazing strength, grace, and determination. She remains upbeat, saying, "Well, maybe they’ll find a cure. There were other diseases without a cure, and they found cures for those." Ellen, 75, echoes that sentiment and describes with great satisfaction her role in helping with Helen’s care. She says that toward the end of some days Helen has trouble speaking without slurring her words a bit, but Ellen is right there making sure others understand and are meeting her needs. Ellen notes that this is a difficult situation for Helen and that, sometimes, she gets sad and emotional about her illness—as any of us would. When that happens, Ellen is there to listen, and to wipe away her tears. Another commonality Helen and Ellen share is a deep affection for Skirball Director of Spiritual Life Rabbi Karen Bender, who visits them often. They beam as they recall recent visits including one where Ellen says the Rabbi shared that, if she were back in college, she would want to be roommates with the two of them. When prompted, the women offer sound advice to other roommates, whether at the Jewish Home or in other communities: "Share everything with a mentality of what’s mine is yours, and vice versa," Ellen says. "When it comes to friendship, care about each other’s feelings. Take a few weeks to get to know each other. Give one another space and treat each other with mutual respect." Without needing to add a word, Helen nods in agreement. They look at each other, and their warm and enthusiastic smiles set an inspiring example for roommates, friends, couples, and co-workers everywhere.