Jewish Senior Life Blog

DANCING THROUGH THE DARKNESS The sun is just a few hours from setting over West Bloomfield, its golden rays light …

THE FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT At 1:00 pm on a crisp fall afternoon, the residents of Jewish Senior Life gathered together …

AND SO…WE SING The celebration of the Jewish holidays has always been rooted in the duality of joy and sorrow, …

THE HIGH HOLY DAYS The Jewish holidays, particularly Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, carry themes that resonate deeply with the …

ROSH HASHANAH REIMAGINED I roamed the halls of Meer, Hechtman and Fleischman recently and thought about all of the people …

VOTE As election day (November 5th) approaches, JSL has taken an active role in assisting and educating residents about their …

STAND UP AGAINST HATE After reading about Live and Learn at Meer Apartments, where I marveled about the recent eight …

THE LIFE IN JEWISH SENIOR LIFE Nestled among the green spaces and wetlands of West Bloomfield, Meer Independent Living Apartments …

The Benefits of Playing Board Games for Cognitive Health As we age, maintaining cognitive health becomes increasingly important. Engaging in …

LIVING WITH COGNITIVE DECLINE At JSL, there is a concerted effort in focusing on healthy aging activities.  Resident Service Coordinators …

THE END The older we get, we must face a variety of unavoidable pokes and prods during visits to doctors …

JSL: THE AGING CHRONICLES Twenty-four energized Fleischman residents sat exercising together led by professional instructor Michelle Black. As I walked …

THE SKLART This week, members of the family of Leo Sklarzl gathered to celebrate the installation of a giant metal …

Lifelong learning is the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons. For older adults, it …

A LEGACY OF LETTERS During creative writing classes at JSL, residents choose any number of real-life topics to base their …

BIRDS OF A FEATHER At home, we hang a birdfeeder just outside our kitchen window and fill it daily with …

HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY Art has long been celebrated as a powerful form of expression, allowing individuals to convey emotions and …

JOYFUL OYS I remember evenings when my young children would transform our family room fireplace hearth into a stage, creating …

BELOVED DOG If you have owned a pup or have loved a pup, you will appreciate the book, “Beloved Dog” …

Summertime at Jewish Senior Life offers a wonderful opportunity for seniors to enjoy the warm weather and participate in various …

AGING ONE DAY AT A TIME I picked up Nora Ephron’s book, “I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other …

MULTITASKING Lots happening at JSL as usual. The Annual Meeting next Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 pm comes on the heels …

KINDNESS BEFORE TRUTH We observed the holiday of Shavuot this past week. This holiday commemorates the 6th day of the …

TODAY’S MOMENTS ARE TOMORROW’S MEMORIES “I’m New at Being Old”, a book by Lucy Rose Fischer, Ph.D., caught my eye …

Memory is an essential component of our cognitive function, playing a crucial role in our daily lives. As we age, …

LIVE AND LEARN Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit is known for signature programming spanning a range of interests, and …

GRIN AND BEAR IT How often do we ask others, “So how are you doing?” after we learn they’ve recently …

HADASSAH L’DOR V’DOR This past Wednesday, Elizabeth Silver, and Sophie Klisman, two Holocaust Survivors who reside happily at Meer Apartments, …

LOVE IS THE ANSWER At this moment in history, there is a painful divide separating people. We can’t stand idly …

A SENIOR MOMENT I was on the phone catching up with my daughter Lindsey recently and in the middle of …

EVERYDAY PEOPLE Everyone has a calling, a purpose – to discover why we’re here, and then once discovered, the responsibility …

Introduction The twilight years are often depicted as a period for relaxation and reflection, a well-deserved break after decades of …

THOUGHTS ON MY 71ST BIRTHDAY As one who recalls the most minute details of my childhood, I sometimes struggle to …

BEHIND THE SCENES AT JSL What a whirlwind of activity we experienced at JSL on Wednesday, April 10, as creative …

WHEN YOU BELIEVE I was happy to learn that a friend receives the JSL newsletter and uses its arrival at …

ATTITUDES When I get down or annoyed by someone or something, I often ask myself, what can I do to …

WINDOWS I enjoy looking out of my windows at home. Birdwatching is a great hobby.  In my yard the bird …

Nestled within a supportive community that values tradition, compassion, and holistic well-being, Jewish Senior Life offers residents a comprehensive approach …

TRAVELING LIGHTLY Terry the painter sent me a text. He says he’s ready to come to the house and begin …

FRIENDS OF JSL – CELEBRATING IRIS APFEL by Beth Robinson As I’m writing up materials for this year’s Lives Well …

GETTING TO KNOW YOU Often when older adults reflect on their lives, they recall moments of joy, loss, discovery and …

ORDINARY PEOPLE CHANGE THE WORLD This past week, several of our Jewish Senior Life team members attended the always inspiring …

Jewish Senior Life (JSL) stands as a beacon of Jewish heritage, offering seniors a unique and enriching environment that celebrates …

THE RABBI’S GIFT I rediscovered the importance of inspiration, faith, and community Wednesday night at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. With my …

INTO NO MAN’S LAND During an afternoon visit to the Zekelman Holocaust Museum this past Sunday, we listened to Survivor …

KEEPSAKES Letters are a magical way for people who are no longer here to comfort us and bring us happiness …

THE LONG GOODBYE After our beloved member, Brenda, passed away this week, we began the process of mourning her beautiful …

INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY 1.27.24 In memory of the Holocaust, I want to share some notes I took on a …

THE GIVING TREE I periodically read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein to my grandchildren, as I read it to their parents, …

At Jewish Senior Life (JSL), nestled in the heart of the vibrant community, the rich tapestry of Jewish heritage and …

DON’T STOP BELIEVING I recently discovered and have become obsessed with the amazing piece of art (above) that I shared …

WHO AM I? How often do you ask yourself, “Who am I? How am I? What am I thinking about, …

LIVING LIVES OF MEANING  As we contemplate life in 2024, I hope each of us can lean into making more …

GIVING The purpose of giving Tzedakah is to sanctify ourselves and to help us lead more elevated and spiritual lives. …

HOW TO KNOW A PERSON At a holiday gift exchange with one of my monthly book clubs, I was fortunate …

The holiday season is often synonymous with joy, festivity, and the spirit of giving. In senior living communities, this time …

CHANUKAH The holiday of light and hope began Thursday, December 7, as our brothers and sisters in Israel battle to …

RABBINICAL WISDOM When I purchase new books, I don’t always begin at the beginning. I like to open a random …

HAPPY THANKSGIVING I hope everyone enjoyed a special gathering in honor of Thanksgiving. I felt lucky to host the annual …

In the heart of our community at Jewish Senior Life, the echoes of tradition and the warmth of heritage resonate …

THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS I googled TW3 and hummed along with the theme song from the 1962 TV …

Neal Rubin: Metro Detroit seniors become authors with new book about older adulthood CLICK HERE for the story.

REJOICE WITH THE BRIDE AND GROOM I’m thinking about recent newlyweds Daphna Heisler and Jared Hoffman, whose joyous wedding we …

STRESSED? Who isn’t? The world is in pain and so are we in response. As we follow recent news, we …

At Jewish Senior Life, senior living communities are not just about a place to reside; they’re an opportunity to embrace …

ISRAEL From 2000 to 2008, I proudly worked on behalf of the Technion Institute of Technology as a director for …

LETTERS FROM THE PAST We are so worried about our families and friends and all who are suffering during these …

FINDING TIME In her book, Women Holding Things, author and artist Maira Kalman paints colorful images of the women in her …

IF “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced …

GIVING As a longtime fundraiser for many wonderful causes, I have learned so much from many of my mentors about …

GRATITUDE At Jewish Senior Life, as we anticipate Yom Kippur, The Jewish Day of Atonement, memories of our parents and …

Jewish Senior Life stands as a beacon of faith-driven senior care, offering a unique blend of time-honored Jewish traditions with …

ROSH HASHANAH 5784 In preparation for and during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we search our souls. And we do …

ELUL REFLECTION The month of Elul is the time of year leading up to the High Holidays when we as …

LABOR DAY JSL honors our hard working and devoted staff on Labor Day and every day. On Monday, September 4, …

REBOOT As we prepare for the High Holidays during the sacred Jewish month of Elul, we can search our souls, …

GROWING OLDER You’re telling a story and feeling the joy as you look into the eyes of those around you …

JSL ON CBS DETROIT Tracey Proghovnick, Director of Residential Marketing and Community Relations for the Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan …

CHOICE By Jo Strausz Rosen I recently read The Choice, Embrace the Possible, a memoir by 95-year-old Dr. Edith Eva …

INVEST IN WELLBEING By Jo Strausz Rosen How do we invest in our well-being, and what are the returns to …

JSL ANNUAL MEETING SPEECH, CEO NANCY HEINRICH: THE POWER OF PURPOSE JSL is so proud of our CEO, Nancy Heinrich. …

BEING. BELIEVING. BELONGING. By Jo Strausz Rosen After meeting late in life through an online dating site, then falling head …

MEDITATION By Jo Strausz Rosen At JSL Fleischman Residence, the Life Enrichment Coordinators, and volunteer practitioners of reiki, mindfulness and …

ACTIVE AGING By Jo Strausz Rosen We are not the only ones who have been drumming the point home that …

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month The significance of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month cannot be overstated. This month-long …

THE PROVERBIAL GOLD AT THE END OF THE PRIDE RAINBOW By Nicole Lupiloff JSL is proud to provide inclusive residential …

TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE By Jo Strausz Rosen We gratefully appreciate so many community volunteers who spend their time supporting …

POWER OF PURPOSE By Jo Strausz Rosen Arlene Frank recently published a poem with a story in Nu?-Detroit. They speak …

DO SOMETHING By Jo Strausz Rosen We named the theme for this year’s JSL Annual Meeting The Power of Purpose. …

SHAVUOT By Jo Strausz Rosen Shavuot falls after a verbal counting of the 49 days between the Jewish holidays of …

THE VILLAGE EFFECT By Jo Strausz Rosen A few years ago, I was fortunate to meet the fabulous Brené Brown, PhD, …

COUNTDOWN TO 8 OVER 80 By Jo Strausz Rosen Last year, during an unexpected COVID 19 breakout at JSL, we …

MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS’ MONTH By Jo Strausz Rosen Recently JSL’s Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, Barbra Giles, flew to …

THE JSL CZECH MEMORIAL SCROLL #749 By Jo Strausz Rosen I traveled to Beachwood, Ohio, on Sunday, April 23, 2023, …

NEVER FORGET By Jo Strausz Rosen Yom HaShoah services were held on the campuses of JSL, led by Dr. Charles …

8/80 SPOTLIGHT: RICHARD KRUGEL By Jo Strausz Rosen For 80 years, Richard Krugel has celebrated his birthday on Valentine’s Day. …

8/80 SPOTLIGHT: ROZ GARBER By Jo Strausz Rosen Former Detroit Public Schools teacher Roz Garber has a witty and self-deprecating …

A CRASH COURSE IN JEWISH ESSENTIALS By Jo Strausz Rosen Members of our diverse JSL staff have been thoroughly enjoying …

SARA BERMAN’S CLOSET By Jo Strausz Rosen On a recent escape to Sarasota, I visited the Sarasota Museum of Art …

POETRY IN AGING By Jo Strausz Rosen Older adults sometimes find themselves feeling invisible, or irrelevant, or insecure. Some of …

MAKING THE CHOICE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE By Jo Strausz Rosen Last year, Rabbi Polter, JSL community chaplain came to …

WHAT SETS US APART By Jo Strausz Rosen When someone asks what I do for a living, my short “elevator …

RULES FOR AGING By Jo Strausz Rosen The writer Roger Rosenblatt, editor-at-large of Time, Inc., winner of two George Polk …

FINDING JOY, BALANCE AND MEANING By Jo Strausz Rosen It can be difficult to deal with darkness and lean into …

THE CRISIS THAT WASN’T. By Jo Strausz Rosen Fleischman Residence and Hechtman Staff got creative quickly when we received the …

CPR CERTIFIED By Jo Strausz Rosen Imagine you’re at a family dinner and one of your relatives suddenly stops breathing. …

HARVESTING ELDERHOOD By Jo Strausz Rosen Richard Alpert aka Ram Dass, born in 1931, was a beloved spiritual author and …

7 Ways Senior Communities Promote Health & Wellness As people age, their mental and physical performance and capabilities tend to …

THE MESSENGERS By Jo Strausz Rosen The Hebrew word for angel is Malach, meaning messenger: one who is sent. When …

PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES By Jo Strausz Rosen When I was a child, I used to spend rainy days sitting on the …

TELL YOUR STORIES By Jo Strausz Rosen As we approach the close of 2022, our thoughts turn to our parents, …

KVELLING By Jo Strausz Rosen It’s time to Kvell about JSL! There are many 80+ year old menschen in our …

The Benefits of Lifelong Learning in Older Adults Seniors occasionally need help learning new things. The National Institute On Aging’s …

Be The Light By Jo Strausz Rosen As December 2022 draws to a close, we are so grateful to each …

This Week’s Jewish News Features TWO JSL Stories: Lives Well Lived Fashion Show and Janet Antin: A Life In Service …

Philanthropy, Extra Foam: New JSL Coffee House By Jo Strausz Rosen Jewish Senior Life celebrated the grand opening of the …

Hanukkah Gift Ideas Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is an eight-day Jewish celebration. It marks the miraculous victory of the Maccabees, Jewish …

As Good As It Gets By Jo Strausz Rosen I want to take a moment this week to give a …

Gifts For Grandchildren: Holiday Gift Guide Holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate special occasions with our loved ones, and …

Count Your Chickens By Jo Strausz Rosen One of my favorite stories is about Sarah, an aging, newly widowed mother, …

Heart Healthy Foods For Seniors According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease kills more people …

The Brown Center Arts Programs By Jo Strausz Rosen Weekly art classes at The Dorothy & Peter Brown Jewish Community …

The Magic of Friendly Visits By Jo Strausz Rosen Recently on a particularly gorgeous fall day, I took a walk …

Raising Awareness About Aging And Ageism By Jo Strausz Rosen I just reread, This Chair Rocks – A Manifesto Against …

Blessings By Jo Strausz Rosen Sometimes my brain gets overwhelmed by thinking big and overloads with all the “stuff” of …

Kitchen Table Wisdom By Jo Strausz Rosen Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., is a clinical professor of Family and Community Medicine …

The Bustling Brown Center By Jo Strausz Rosen Activities during the Jewish Holidays at The Dorothy & Peter Brown Jewish …

Be Extraordinary By Jo Strausz Rosen At 101, Fashionista, Iris Apfel has lived her life out loud. She maintains unique …

SUKKOT 5783 By Jo Strausz Rosen Modern readers will find very few pages on Sukkot in The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia. …

Yom Kippur 5783 By Jo Strausz Rosen Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, is considered the most important holiday of …

Shanah Tovah Umetukah! By Jo Strausz Rosen As the Days of Awe approach, I find myself reminiscing, as I do …

The Brown Memory Care Pavilion By Jo Strausz Rosen Located on the third floor of the Fleischman Residence, the Dorothy …

Why I Love This Place By Beth Robinson   It was a busy day. They’re all busy at JSL, which …

  Preparing For The Holiday By Jo Strausz Rosen In preparation for the New Year, 5783, I wish to reaffirm …

  Living With Dementia By Jo Strausz Rosen Are you or a family member living with dementia? What can the …

Here’s to Life This Flashback Friday is from a June 2017 JN feature on our CEO, Nancy Heinrich. by Vivian …

Signals By Jo Strausz Rosen John Stewart, singer, and songwriter with the famed Kingston Trio, once told Roseanne Cash, “We’re …

11 Signs It Might Be Time For Assisted Living For many, a discussion about transitioning a loved one to an …

At The Hop By Jo Strausz Rosen Thanks to a special donation from Andrew Mac of AMAC Pharmacy Services, the …

Social Isolation By Jo Strausz Rosen A recent study led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego points …

WHAT DRIVES YOU? By Jo Strausz Rosen Do you ever reminisce about childhood road trips with your family? My life …

Intuition By Jo Strausz Rosen Sometimes, people choose a new and better path by following their intuition. Maybe you follow …

Make The Plan By Jo Strausz Rosen I’m staying focused in the present but find myself thinking about the future. …

Inhale… Exhale… By Jo Strausz Rosen We teach our residents at Jewish Senior Life that when our mind is elsewhere …

  Happily, Ever After By Jo Strausz Rosen Sometimes when I remember my father, I think about how he painstakingly …

Independence Day By Jo Strausz Rosen When I was growing up, the 4th of July meant Summer was in full …

The Mensch in the Pink Stetson By Jo Strausz Rosen Today is bittersweet because we say “Adios” to one of …

Sorting Through Confusion By Jo Strausz Rosen How many times have we said aloud, “Oh no, not again,” as we …

The Gift of Your Story By Jo Strausz Rosen I’ve been thinking about the different ways in which we can …

Comfort By Jo Strausz Rosen Another horrible day in the life of America captured repeatedly in the news. We are …

Bubbies and Zaidies By Jo Strausz Rosen   GRANDMOTHER by Kate Duignan When I was five you taught me how …

Paraskevidekatriaphobia By Jo Strausz Rosen On Friday the 13th some people find themselves worrying. They avoid flying, crossing paths with a …

Happiness By Jo Strausz Rosen Dr. Betsy Stone, PhD, felt waves of joy and pleasure being with people in a …

Driving Miss Daisy By Jo Strausz Rosen The ability to travel around town, going wherever we want – whenever we …

Small Kindness By Jo Strausz Rosen In his book, The Path to Kindness, James Crews, also editor of How to …

Mah Nishtanah By Jo Strausz Rosen Why is this night of Passover different from last year’s? For those of us …

  Rituals By Jo Strausz Rosen What are the rituals we create to commemorate the important milestones in our lives? …

Eldering… Becoming The Sage By Jo Strausz Rosen Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomie taught, “When we refer to someone as a “senior” …

Age-ing and Sage-ing By Jo Strausz Rosen Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi was approaching his 60th birthday.  The realization came to him …

Coville residents Natalie and Marvin with their decorated Purim masks!   Powerful Purim By Jo Strausz Rosen Thursday, all the …

How We Heal By Jo Strausz Rosen In the 4th installment in a series on trauma, Dr. Betsy Stone reveals …

The JSL Difference By Jo Strausz Rosen Our sister agency 2Life Communities in Boston shares the following and we couldn’t …

Life Force By Jo Strausz Rosen How many of us feel motivated to make changes after we read life affirming …

  Concerns About Aging As 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, the demographics of America are changing. This expanding …

Honoree & Student Introductions – Eight Over Eighty 2022 By Jo Strausz Rosen Yesterday JSL introduced the eight over eighty …

Post Traumatic Growth By Jo Strausz Rosen This week JSL staff attended Therapy Session #2 with Betsy Stone, PhD. She …

  Grandparents In Waiting By Jo Strausz Rosen For those of us whose grandparents are no longer here, missing them, …

Trauma, Peace and Jewish Spirituality By Jo Strausz Rosen This week JSL staff participated in the first of a 3-part …

Fall Prevention By Jo Strausz Rosen Every second of every day an older adult falls. Tracey Proghovnick, Director of Residential …

Family Memories By Jo Strausz Rosen Gather your loved ones around and consider exchanging answers to questions that define who …

By Jo Strausz Rosen We can make some important changes during these COVID years to flush out depression, anger, and …

Tech Helping Residents Stay Connected Residents at Fleischman Residence, Memory Care and Coville Assisted Living can access entertainment with the …

Since 1907, Jewish Senior Life has been fostering vibrant communities for our residents. No matter which of our many buildings …