Health & Fitness
Jewish Senior Life Presents 2 Film Benefits
Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit is sponsoring two film events in April to benefit Alzheimer's and Dementia-related disorders and Holocaust survivors.
Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit is sponsoring two film events in April to benefit Alzheimer’s and Dementia-related disorders and Holocaust survivors.
The first event, benefiting the Dorothy & Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Care Program, is a showing of “Life in Stills,” on April 15th, an Israeli documentary that tells the story of a precious relationship between a grandmother and grandson; the grandson, Ben Peter, will be present for the event. It is showing at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Jewish Community Center’s Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival.
A second event, benefiting the Program for Holocaust Survivors and Families, takes place a week later on April 24th; the premiere of “Eli's Story: Inspiring Future Generations” is this year’s central focus. The story features Holocaust survivor Eliezar Ayalon, whose mother gave him a cup of honey when she sent him away during the Holocaust, hoping he would survive. “You will survive, and you will have a sweet life,” she told the only one of her children she could save.
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The April 24th event also honors the 10 Grosfeld Leadership Missions to Israel and Poland, which included participants such as filmmaker Allyson Rockwell (who created “Eli’s Story”), Dr. Shari Rogers (the film’s co-producer) and Molly Chernow, a JSL board member and a past advisory chairperson for its Program for Holocaust Survivors and Families. Ayalon was a tour guide on many Grosfeld missions.
"He had an incredible zest for life, and a desire to teach the past but move forward and live a happy and healthy life," says Molly Chernow. Meeting Ayalon on the Grosfeld 6 Mission inspired Chernow and friend Nikki Raimi to create Mishpoch-Chai, a service of the intergenerational Program for Holocaust Survivors that connects young Jewish American families with Holocaust survivors to create mutually-enriching relationships.
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“Both of these films present poignant stories that have personal and intimate ties to our local community,” says Carol Rosenberg, director, Jewish Senior Life Foundation. “It is these intergenerational relationships that continue our long legacy of survival and tradition. In hosting events that feature popular culture like these two fine films, we are creating a bridge to younger generations who want to contribute to their community and support older adults.”
The film premiere of “Eli’s Story” will be held at the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Hills; event co-chairs include Jennifer and Stuart Freedland, Stacey and Steve Gursten, Nikki and Mike Raimi, and Deborah and Steven Rosenthal. Following the premiere, "Eli's Story" will air on Detroit Public Television before airing nationwide.
The Brown Center is an award-winning program of Jewish Senior Life and JVS, assisting older adults with Alzheimer’s and Dementia-related disorders under the direction of Peter Ostrow.
"My parents wanted to create a place for people that would maintain dignity and quality of life as well as give a respite for caregivers," says Susan Brown Lewis, an Advisory Committee member of the Brown Program and honorary event chair. "Our program has received national recognition, and others have modeled their programs after ours." Event chairpersons are Elaine Beresh and Cheryl Margolis.
Your:People can arrange interviews with these individuals:
- Carol Rosenberg, director, Jewish Senior Life Foundation
- Peter Ostrow, director, Dorothy & Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Care Program
- Dr. Charles Silow, director, Program for Holocaust Survivors and Families
- James and Nancy Grosfeld, founders of the Grosfeld Mission
- Scott Kaufman, CEO, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, and the person responsible for connecting Eliezar Ayalon to the Grosfeld Mission
Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for older adults through programs and services that support aging with dignity and choice, and maximize independence. With offices in Oak Park and West Bloomfield, JSL connects people with services through ONE NUMBER for all things: 248:661:2999.
Event Details
April 15th
8 p.m. showing, “Life in Stills,” to benefit the Dorothy & Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Care Program
at the Berman Theater of the Performing Arts, West Bloomfield
Contact: Bobbi Chess, (248) 592-5033 or bchess@jslmi.org
April 24th
7 p.m. showing, “Eli’s Story,” to benefit the Program for Holocaust Survivors and their Families
at the Maple Theater, Bloomfield Hills
Contact: Renee Fein, 248-592-5028 or rfein@jslmi.org
Media Requests:
Your People LLC
Lynne Golodner
248:376:0406
