Resources & News

Grandparents In Waiting

By Jo Strausz Rosen

For those of us whose grandparents are no longer here, missing them, and holding their memories in our hearts can be lonely. If they were with us, I would spend time listening to their stories, share news of the world and favorite activities. I would make their recipes, read to them, and share stories about work and stories and activities about my children and grandchildren.

Family is a touchstone, a living, breathing path to relatives and those long gone, but never forgotten. How many of us live without family nearby? Without parents and grandparents? Without children and grandchildren?

Jewish Senior Life is filled with grandparents-in-waiting, a place to make friends and find family even when you’re not related. Our JSL community is home to 850 older adults. Delightful, intelligent, lifelong learners, former professors, doctors, teachers, comedians, businesspeople, artists, writers, homemakers, psychologists, and so many others who have rich lives with great stories to share. Through this newsletter and other social media posts, we visualize our greater Detroit community getting to know the inspiring residents who call us home. This is the JSL Difference.

Recent Articles

STILL SHE ROSE

May 2, 2025 No Comments

It could happen to any of us. Nina was a fortress in a world that often underestimates older adults. At 93, she still lived alone in the colonial she’d bought after her divorce. Her house was her badge of independence, of survival. She walked her terrier, Max, twice a day, paid every bill with precise timing, and cooked her own meals. When friends asked her secret, she’d smile and say,

April 25, 2025 No Comments

As we observe Yom HaShoah this year, the haunting echoes of the Holocaust feel closer than ever—not because of our proximity to the past, but because of the growing shadows of denial and indifference in the present. For decades, we’ve

October 24, 2024 No Comments

DANCING THROUGH THE DARKNESS The sun is just a few hours from setting over West Bloomfield, its golden rays light the walls of Fleischman Residence, casting long shadows that seem to hold both ancient wisdom and the weight of current

October 17, 2024 No Comments

THE FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT At 1:00 pm on a crisp fall afternoon, the residents of Jewish Senior Life gathered together on the newly renovated Meer Patio and Gardens to celebrate Sukkot. The sun filtered through the lattice roof of the

Recent Articles

STILL SHE ROSE

May 2, 2025 No Comments

AND SO…WE SING

October 11, 2024 No Comments

AND SO…WE SING The celebration of the Jewish holidays has always been rooted in the duality of joy and sorrow, hope and suffering. Throughout Jewish history, these moments of festivity and reflection have been interwoven with periods of persecution, displacement,

THE HIGH HOLY DAYS

October 1, 2024 No Comments

THE HIGH HOLY DAYS The Jewish holidays, particularly Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, carry themes that resonate deeply with the concept of living a long, meaningful live. These themes are especially relevant in the context of Jewish Senior Life. The

ROSH HASHANAH REIMAGINED

September 27, 2024 2 Comments

ROSH HASHANAH REIMAGINED I roamed the halls of Meer, Hechtman and Fleischman recently and thought about all of the people who have lived in our buildings and the impact they have left. How many holidays have been celebrated among friends?

VOTE

September 20, 2024 No Comments

VOTE As election day (November 5th) approaches, JSL has taken an active role in assisting and educating residents about their rights as voters. Recently, West Bloomfield Clerk Debbie Binder visited Meer and Hechtman Apartments and today she visited Fleischman Residence