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We were honored to celebrate a B’not Mitzvah for four of our wonderful residents! It's never too late to grow in your faith.

Compassionate senior care is key at Los Angeles Jewish Health, where caring healthcare teams keep communities happy, healthy, and well. Having the right help is crucial when caring for older adults, ensuring each individual is treated with compassion and respect. That’s why Los Angeles Jewish Health’s top-tier healthcare professionals treat our seniors like family. Formerly the Los Angeles Jewish Home, Los Angeles Jewish Health was founded over a century ago on a simple act of care and compassion. “Our story began in 1912 when a small group of neighbors gave shelter to five homeless Jewish men during Passover holiday,” says Dale Surowitz, CEO and president. “Our founder Simon Lewis recognized a vital opportunity to provide respite and resources to the community, and that remains our commitment today.” Now the largest nonprofit, single-source senior healthcare provider in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Jewish Health is a leading name in comprehensive senior living and care. From adult day care activities and residential living to short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing, the award-winning organization serves more than 4,000 seniors throughout Greater Los Angeles. “I’m proud of the best-in-class care we provide to the community. Without organizations like ours, we know many seniors would go without,” Surowitz says. “We have a long-standing reputation of delivering excellence in care and services for vulnerable members of the community who need us the most, especially seniors living near or below the poverty line.” The nonprofit is funded in part with government support as well as a dynamic network of support groups, individuals, corporations, and foundations. Los Angeles Jewish Health is a vital community resource for all, rooted in Jewish values. Charity, quality, dignity, and fiscal responsibility drive programs and care designed to help seniors thrive. “We take a holistic approach to healthy aging focused on mind, body, and spirit,” says Surowitz. “That starts with comprehensive care tailored to support seniors’ physical and mental health.” Enhancing Health and Longevity“Many seniors live in settings that don’t offer the socialization they need,” Surowitz says. “Caring for psychological needs is an important part of helping seniors keep happy, healthy, and well, so we offer a variety of programs that do just that.” Among those are music therapy, pet therapy, and intergenerational volunteer programming that brings children and seniors together. With a growing list of activities, classes, and clubs, there’s something for everyone at Los Angeles Jewish Health. “Our responsibility goes beyond just providing care. We’re committed to providing every senior their highest quality of life possible,” says Surowitz. At Los Angeles Jewish Health, a broad spectrum of in-residence and community-based services ensure healthcare needs are met and help patients remain independent and active for as long as possible. Across the campuses, compassionate physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and therapists deliver personalized care that supports the individualized needs of those they care for each day. “We’re there each step of the way as care needs increase, whether patients reside at home or on one of our campuses,” Surowitz says. With two independent living campuses, state-of-the-art assisted living centers, and multiple skilled nursing facilities, Los Angeles Jewish Health provides in-residence options that meet the diverse needs of residents and patients. “Other vital services that reach out to the community include palliative medicine, hospice, dementia care, and short-term rehabilitation. Additionally, the all-inclusive Brandman Centers for Senior Care provide a myriad of coordinated services and care management to our participants, all designed to enhance longevity and quality of life,” adds Surowitz. “From senior housing to short-term nursing facilities, we care for over 1,000 adults on-site. Now, we’re expanding our services throughout the community to help seniors stay safe, productive, and happy at home, which remarkably reduces hospitalizations,” he continues. That’s one reason why the health system recently rebranded to Los Angeles Jewish Health, a name that better reflects its broad spectrum of senior healthcare services. And with the senior population anticipated to double over the next two decades, the timing couldn’t be better. “Our goal is to continue providing outstanding services across our campuses while reaching deeper into our communities,” Surowitz says. “Many seniors want to enjoy their golden years at home, and our programs allow them to age in place while enhancing their quality of life with services designed to keep them healthy.” Compassionate Care and RespectBehind Los Angeles Jewish Health’s centurylong legacy is a tenured team committed to compassionate patient care. “The word ‘mitzvah’ in Hebrew represents a responsibility to care for others, and we take that very seriously,” says Surowitz. “As seniors age, they aren’t always afforded the dignity and respect they deserve. We bend over backward to provide that. It really is heartening to see our staff treat residents like family.” Located at Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Hirsch Family Campus, the Annenberg School of Nursing instills that passion in the next generation of healthcare providers. At thisaward-winning nursing school, the one-of-a kind program combines a comprehensive curriculum with hands-on clinical experience. Altogether, the school graduates roughly 150 vocational nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and home health aides each year and often hires alums to work across Los Angeles Jewish Health’s campuses. “Many of our students come from underprivileged backgrounds,” Surowitz says. “Our programs provide the education they need to advance while also providing vital medical care throughout underserved communities.” As Los Angeles Jewish Health evolves, the organization plans to expand educational opportunities and programs, yet its dedication to patients remains unchanged. “We’re committed to continuing to deliver the high level of care and services the community has come to know us for, especially as we grow,” says Surowitz. “That’s our hallmark. It’s who we are—and who we’ll always be.”

Following nearly a decade of dedicated service at Los Angeles Jewish Health, Susie Fishenfeld has been promoted to the role of vice president of the Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC), a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. Fishenfeld, who has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare administration, began her tenure at BCSC in November 2014. In her role, Fishenfeld is responsible for corporate program operations, regulatory compliance, fiscal management, quality improvement, patient and family satisfaction, strategic planning, and program development and expansion. In commenting on the promotion, Larissa Stepanians, chief operations officer for Los Angeles Jewish Health, shared, "Susie is richly deserving of this promotion. She is widely recognized in the field of senior care for her energy, enthusiasm, and can-do spirit. Under her leadership, the participant census of our PACE program continues to grow, providing even more seniors in the San Fernando Valley with our award-winning senior care. Even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Susie ensured our Center stayed open to care for those who needed a safe place to go and receive services. Thanks to her dedicated service, we continue to grow, and, in fact, we plan to open a new Brandman Centers for Senior Care location on Pico Blvd., on LA’s Westside, this summer." Prior to coming to Los Angeles Jewish Health, Fishenfeld served 17 years as senior general manager for Vitas Healthcare Corporation, Vitas Innovative Hospice Care. Before Vitas, Fishenfeld had a 13-year tenure at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, where for her last five years she served as vice president of patient care services. Fishenfeld completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley, and received a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. She holds a master’s degree in nursing from California State University, Long Beach in Administration and as a critical care clinical nurse specialist. Fishenfeld has been involved with many professional organizations throughout the state of California, most recently, CalPACE where she is a member on the board and prior officer serving as secretary. Holding prior committee positions include both the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association and the California Association for Health Services at Home. She has also served on the executive committee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. Fishenfeld resides in the city of Calabasas with her husband Moe. She has two children and four grandchildren.

Judith Karon, Casey Joseph, Marcia Mass and Sue Solender with Rabbi Ron Goldberg The great dramatist and author George Bernard Shaw famously declared that "Youth is wasted on the young." But Shaw clearly never met the residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health, whose incredible energy, dynamism, and desire to learn prove it's always a good time to engage in a journey of self-discovery. Last month, four Los Angeles Jewish Health residents celebrated their b'not mitzvah. In a ceremony typically celebrated by 12 or 13 year olds, the 4 women stood in front of their community at Eisenberg Village to read from the Torah and offer their interpretations of its text, in the process honoring the faith of their forebearers and affirming their commitment to Jewish peoplehood. For Casey Joseph, Judith Karon, Marcia Mass and Sue Solender, deciding to study for an adult bat mitzvah required a leap of faith on multiple levels. "Whether you're a teenager or a woman somewhat past that, it takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of family and friends and chant words in an unfamiliar language, becoming links in a chain that extends all the way back to Mt. Sinai," says Rabbi Ron Goldberg, rabbi of Los Angeles Jewish Health's Eisenberg Village campus. "I am just thrilled for these women, whose determination and hard work were on display for everyone to see." Rabbi Goldberg officiated at the ceremony, the outgrowth of an adult b'nai mitzvah program he put together with Chief Mission Officer for Los Angeles Jewish Health Rabbi Karen Bender. He says most female residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health never had the opportunity to read from the Torah as young adults—and that he and Rabbi Bender are thrilled to help them engage with Jewish liturgy and tradition. "Today our female residents—who as girls may have been denied a chance to do what their male counterparts were doing—get to stand up and speak for themselves," Rabbi Goldberg says. Marcia Mass with President-CEO Dale Surowitz Making her own decisions about what she could do was particularly important to Casey Joseph, 69, a native of Pittsburgh who moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was 11. "I was always interested in learning about Judaism, but I was always told ‘no' because it was something reserved for boys," she says. "I never stopped thinking about it and knew it would be important for me to do at some point. Being at Los Angeles Jewish Health, I realized now was my moment, and I reached out and grabbed it." Sue Solender, 80, felt similarly. "When I was in grade school, the Jewish community in my hometown of Minneapolis built a Hebrew school, and I wanted to go, but my mother told me I couldn't," she says. "So, I waited and waited, and once I arrived at Los Angeles Jewish Health, I decided that, if they ever had an adult bat mitzvah study group, that would be a sign." For Marcia Mass, 81, the bat mitzvah was a chance to connect with her roots. "My parents moved out to Los Angeles to get away from the orthodoxy of my father's family, so they were not religious, and we never did anything special to mark the holidays," she recalls. "When I had my own daughters, I decided it was important for them to be raised as Jews and to learn about their culture, and both of them had bat mitzvahs." Yet, Marcia never fully explored her own Judaism, and Los Angeles Jewish Health opened her up to the possibility. "I studied hard, and I'm so thrilled it came together and that I was able to share it with three other strong women," she says. "It was a marvelous experience." Casey Joseph with Chairman Andrew Berman This was the second adult bat mitzvah for Judith Karon, 83. In 1995, she studied with her rabbi in Duluth, Minnesota, and took advantage of the bat mitzvah event as an occasion to have a family reunion. "People came from all over the country, and I did the whole thing: Torah reading, haftorah, big party with music. It was special. But this time, at Los Angeles Jewish Health, it was much more spiritually significant to me," Judith says. "Part of what was so wonderful was that the four of us developed a closeness as we learned and prepared together," she continues. "Also, when I got up in front of the congregation, I saw the place was packed, and I was just blown away. All of our friends were there, and our fellow residents, and the staff, and even the chairman of the board of directors and the CEO." During the ceremony, Los Angeles Jewish Health CEO and President Dale Surowitz presented the b'not mitzvah with Kiddush cups; Andrew Berman, chairman of Los Angeles Jewish Health's board, handed out commemorative certificates to mark the occasion. Their presence was just one of the many things that made the warmth and excitement in the room that day palpable, Judith says. "There was just this incredible sense of community. You really had to be there to experience it!"

By Glenda Hahn Many lasting and loving relationships are formed at Los Angeles Jewish Health. During this season of love, we want to share this very special and touching story written by Glenda Hahn, the daughter of Mary Freeman. My mom, Mary, came from a marriage that offered little by way of love or affection. We were led to believe my parents stayed together for the stability of their children. When my father passed away in 1995, my mom felt like a bird let out of a cage. This was her opportunity to spread her wings and follow her dreams to emigrate from her native South Africa to join me and my family in the United States. My kind and generous husband offered her employment, and thus an avenue to support herself. Mary was independent, caught buses to wherever she wanted to go, made new friends, and created a great and happy life for herself. When Mom eventually needed more assistance with daily living, we were fortunate to find an excellent facility for her: Los Angeles Jewish Health, formerly the Los Angeles Jewish Home. The slight resistance she initially gave us quickly dissipated when she realized this was a place for her to enjoy playing cards and bingo, learn the computer, and enjoy movies and other activities. She was social, made new friends, and soon realized she had come to the right place. I’m not sure how Mary and Cyril first connected, but it could have been in discussion of the beautiful jacaranda tree that sat in the gardens of Eisenberg Village, located on one of the Los Angeles Jewish Health campuses. Coincidentally, Cy was also from South Africa, and the tree brought back memories for both of them of the beautiful trees, with their magnetic purple blooms, lining the streets of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The shade of this beautiful tree would later become their meeting place—a spot where they would sit, hand-in-hand, admiring the blossoms and reminiscing about life in the "old country." It was the start of a love story between two nonagenarian expats from South Africa. Not only did the twosome discover they were from the same country; they came from small cities in close proximity to each other. In fact, Mary’s husband had gone to Cyril’s high school! Now, many decades later, they were sitting cuddled up in a place over 10,000 miles away. Mary and Cy (as he was called) became known to the residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health as "a couple." They would spend their days in the Newman Lounge watching TV, or in front of the Newman building, where more often than not, at least one of them would doze off. They would reminisce about life in South Africa, talk about their children, and quote excerpts from Hamlet, which they had both studied in high school. After some time, it became clear Mary required more care. The decision to move her to skilled nursing was a difficult one because separating her from her beau would be hard on both of them. Yet, the separation only brought them closer. With the exception of mealtime, Cy spent nearly every waking moment trekking over to the Max Factor Building to be with Mary. It seemed nothing was going to keep these two apart…until COVID hit. Quarantine meant they would no longer be able to spend time together. For nearly eight months, they were separated by the virus. Would their relationship be able to weather this storm? When the pandemic began to wane, Mary, whose memory and cognition had deteriorated, moved to the Goldenberg-Ziman Special Care Center. As it happened, Cy was also suffering from the early stages of dementia – and he, too, moved to the G-Z Building. American poet Maya Angelou wrote, "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." Suddenly, the duo were together again, and the connection was still there. Both were hard of hearing, which made verbal communication difficult, but they had each other, their memories, and their mutual longing for South Africa and its beautiful jacaranda trees. Mary passed away several months ago. This spring, as the jacaranda at Los Angeles Jewish Health begins to bloom, I’ll think with gratitude of my mother, and of Cy, and of the wonderful time they spent together.

Arlene Bercu Los Angeles Jewish Health is renowned for advancing the health of older adults across our community. Its commitment to raising the bar on compassionate, high-quality care includes a dedicated focus on emotional wellness—engaging seniors in creative, stimulating activities that help them find enjoyment in every day. Los Angeles Jewish Health's Arts and Crafts Program is a prime example, bringing people together to give life to new ideas and make memories along the way. The Arts and Crafts Room is a bustling hub of energy at Los Angeles Jewish Health, offering residents resources, guidance, and camaraderie as they develop their creative talents and produce a wide range of beautiful handcrafts. "It's where we host instructors for oil-based painting classes, and where we teach knitting, quilting, crocheting, and all the various needlecrafts," says Annette Weinberg, Los Angeles Jewish Health's campus lifestyle and enrichment director for Eisenberg Village. "The studio is packed full of every possible supply material for any project a resident would like to do." Staffed by Arts and Crafts Director Radka Falk, the Arts and Crafts Room enables residents to express themselves while achieving a state of emotional Zen. "Creativity is soothing for the soul, and this is such an uplifting environment," Annette says. "People often spend hours here, and their tasks take them away to a whole other place." Norma Garber Norma Garber, 89, is one of those people, a lifelong seamstress who trained as a young girl in England to be a high-end dressmaker. She volunteered at Los Angeles Jewish Health before becoming a resident about four and a half years ago and notes that, even then, she knew the Arts and Crafts Room would be where she would spend much of her time once she moved in. "I like quilting and making pillows, challah covers, and table runners. I love everything I do here; I call it my ‘happy room,'" Norma laughs. "Radka is amazing—there isn't anything she doesn't know how to do. And I get to spend time with my friends, like Casey Joseph, another quilter." Toby and Clara Silnik Casey, 89, enjoys the shared sense of purpose the Arts and Crafts Room inspires. "Spending time with Norma is great: It's nice to have someone to talk to who understands what you're trying to do and can help you map it out," she says. "I love the creativity and beauty of using my hands to make something. The idea that one of my quilts is keeping a baby, a child, or an adult cozy, just warms my heart." In addition to nurturing residents' creative impulse, the Arts and Crafts Room also welcomes visitors interested in viewing—and even purchasing—some of the goods made on the premises. A gallery of canvases painted by residents is on permanent display, and a small, on-site store offers a number of resident-made items for sale. Director Radka Falk "The money we make from the shop gets reinvested into the gift shop so we can continue buying supplies for residents to craft with!" Annette says. Frequenters of the Arts and Crafts Room are often joined by Los Angeles Jewish Health volunteers, who bring a variety of craft projects with them for residents to complete. "The items you can find in the shop are just gorgeous. But, even more importantly, making those items does absolute wonders for our residents' well-being," Annette says. "When they're here, their spirits soar."

In the world of short-term rehabilitation for seniors, not all programs or facilities are created equal. Given its breadth of services, depth of experience, and track record of results, Los Angeles Jewish Health's high-impact short-term rehab is in a class by itself. Under the supervision of Director of Rehabilitation Services Daniel Persichetti, the offerings are robust. "We have seven distinct short-term rehab operations at Los Angeles Jewish Health, each one geared to meet diverse seniors' needs," he says. "It's terrific because it means we're able to help with a wide range of challenges, getting people back on their feet and ready to reclaim mobility and function that may have been compromised due to a recent hospital stay or illness." The programs include short-term, skilled nursing facility-based rehab at Los Angeles Jewish Health's Grancell Village campus; a PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) clinic at the Brandman Centers for Senior Care, also located in Grancell Village; and outpatient services on the Eisenberg Village campus and at Fountainview at Gonda Westside, in Playa Vista. "When older adults are released from the hospital, they may not be quite ready to return home, so they come stay with us for a bit, instead," Daniel says. "Maybe they can't walk very far or have difficulty climbing out of bed. Perhaps they've just had a hip or knee replacement, or they've suffered a stroke. We equip them with the right tools to build up their strength and recover their independence." The outpatient clinic at Eisenberg Village is also open to members of the general public, who can come to campus to leverage Los Angeles Jewish Health's renowned expertise in senior care. "Our speech therapists and physical therapists are available for things like memory and cognition training, improving balance and gait, and refining overall strength and function," Daniel says. "As those in need of these services discover just how good our care is, more and more people from the greater community are relying on us every day." In addition to having access to an outpatient clinic, seniors participating in PACE at the Brandman Centers may benefit from home visits, as well. "Sometimes, our therapy staff will go to a participant's home to make sure they have the tools they need to help in their recovery. For instance, they may evaluate if a grab bar is in the right spot for the shower, or ensure the person has the appropriate ramp to make their house accessible—essentially, making equipment recommendations to help seniors live in their homes for a longer period of time," Daniel says. He and his team of about 30 full-time therapists (plus 20 or so per diem staff) also treat longer-term Los Angeles Jewish Health residents. "Sometimes, folks in assisted living may experience a decline—say after a fall. Our caring team provides them with therapy two or three days a week to help them improve," he says. "One of the things that makes our therapy so successful is that, because it's in-house, we develop good collaborative relationships with nurses and other Los Angeles Jewish Health staff, so we can work together as a team to get residents better in a timely manner." As Daniel sees it, these partnerships are a key distinguishing feature of rehab services at Los Angeles Jewish Health. "I've worked for many companies over the past 17 years, starting out in acute care and then moving on to aquatic therapy, outpatient care, and acute rehab. But working for Los Angeles Jewish Health is like night and day. Not only is there a real family atmosphere here, but also, the primary focus is different: It is about serving people and the community, rather than solely on generating financial gain." For Daniel, one of the most gratifying parts of the job is watching people start to feel empowered when they realize they can do things on their own. "We see so many success stories," he says, "and I'm proud of the gains our seniors make with our support." Among Los Angeles Jewish Health's satisfied short-term rehab customers is David Goldstein, who sought intensive physical therapy after fracturing his humerus (upper arm bone). "Los Angeles Jewish Health staff are responsive, they know what they're doing, and they make you feel like you're in your own home," he says. "Although being here is only temporary, they've done everything possible to make me comfortable and happy. I chose the right place, and I would highly recommend it."