March 2013 (PDF) - Jewish Home at Rockleigh

ISSUE 45 l QUARTERLY REPORT
MARCH 2013 l ADAR 5773
Never Too Late for a Bar Mitzvah!
Iris Rosendahl, Public Relations Coordinator, Jewish Home Foundation
There’s no question that a Bar Mitzvah is a special day in a boy’s life, and it was just
as special for Julius Kaplan, a 94-year-old resident of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh.
Julius, who grew up in the Bronx during the Depression, couldn’t go to Hebrew
School at that time because he had to help support his family. He thus always felt
that something was missing from his life.
towel. There’s no end to learning. In every Jew, there’s a little spark that can be
ignited.” Rabbi Feld has a great admirer in Julius. “He’s unbelievable,” Julius says.
“I’m so happy there’s such a rabbi around. You can’t make up this story.”
When he moved to JHR in June, his daughter Eileen Mandel, a resident of Chestnut
Ridge, NY, spoke to Rabbi Simon Feld, JHR’s Director of Rabbinic Services about
her concern that her father would have a hard time adjusting to this change in his life.
Rabbi Feld reassured her that everyone finds his niche at Rockleigh. “He came to
one of my classes, and I suggested that his daughter bring him to services at our
synagogue.” She did, and before long Rabbi Feld, who got to know Julius and his
family, suggested that Julius have a Bar Mitzvah. “It’s never too late,” he said. “The
minimum requirement is to call him to the Torah,” so in preparation, Eileen and
Julius practiced the blessings he said on December 22, 2012 when he celebrated his
Bar Mitzvah with family and friends. Of course, Eileen’s husband, Walter was there
as were their sons Andrew, 34, and Daniel, 29.
Adding to the special day, teens from the National Council of Synagogue Youth were
at JHR that weekend for a Shabbaton program. It began with a Friday night Kabbalat
Shabbat service, followed by a wonderful dinner as well as singing and dancing by
the young people, with residents joining in if they wished. The teens stayed
overnight and attended Julius’ Bar Mitzvah, celebrating the occasion with him.
Eileen presented her father with a tallit (prayer shawl) and kippah (yarmulke) for the
Bar Mitzvah. She went to Tuvia’s Seforim Judaica in Monsey, NY to purchase a set
for her father and related her father’s upcoming event to the owner. Inspired by the
story, Tuvia said he would include a tallit bag without charge and embroider Julius’
Hebrew name on it. “I’m very excited,” said Eileen. “He’ll be just like every other
Jewish boy with a tallit and kippah.”
Julius first came to JHR for rehabilitation after a fall. Then he returned to his own
apartment in Chestnut Ridge. “He was driving up to two years ago,” Eileen said.
But as time went on, he needed more care; so six months ago he moved into JHR as
a resident.
As Rabbi Feld emphasizes, “it’s never too late to do anything…never throw in the
Holiday Happiness is a “Family” Affair
Charlene Vannucci, Director of Volunteer Services, Jewish Home Family
What Does the Hot Kosher Holiday Meal
Program Really Mean
We would like to take this opportunity to express
our heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers
who are helping us deliver our Kosher
Holiday Meals on Wheels to seniors in the
community. What would a holiday be without
a warm holiday meal and a warm holiday
visit For some of our seniors in the community,
it wouldn’t be a holiday at all….
When we began our program just one year
ago, Rosh Hashanah 2011, we sent out 48
meals with the help of 11 volunteers. Meals
are distributed for Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah
and Passover. This year at Hanukkah, we sent
out 97 meals with the help of 25 volunteers.
Our volunteers range in age from 5 to 85 and
they come to us from all walks of life. Some
volunteer individually and some as a family.
All are most welcome.
After each holiday outreach we receive countless
calls and letters. Some of the calls are from
our meal recipients raving about the delicious
meal and the delightful time they shared with
our volunteers. Other calls and letters are from
our volunteers thanking us for the opportunity
to share their time in such a joyful way,
in the true spirit of the holiday season.
As the need for this community outreach
continues to grow, our need for dedicated
volunteers continues to grow with it. If you,
or someone you know, would like to participate
in this very special program, or if you
would like to reach out to seniors between
the holidays, please contact Charlene
Vannucci at 201-750-4237 or cvannucci@
jewishhomefamily.org.
Once again, thank you to all our volunteers
for your generosity of spirit and your willingness
to share your time and yourself with
our seniors. We could not do what we do
without you!
I came in this morning to receive two wonderful messages on
my phone.
Two women thanked the Jewish Home for the delicious holiday
meals they received. Both raved about the food!!! They were
very complimentary in the messages and one mentioned “that
the package was very inclusive – from the hot meal to the gelt
to the jelly donut.” They were both very pleased with the volunteers
who delivered the meals as well, and went on to say
how happy the Jewish Home made them feel during this holiday
season. One of our Adult Day Health Care participants
received a meal also and was so surprised to go home with the
meal. She thoroughly enjoyed this gift.
I say this with all sincerity that while I listened to these two
messages this morning, I really got choked up! You all really
touched these two women during the holiday, and to me that
is what we are all about. It made me feel so proud of this organization
I work for…a simple act of kindness reflects on the
whole team.
Joan Di Paola, RN Director
Gallen Adult Day Health Care Center
Passover begins on March 25th!
For delivery of a hot Kosher Passover meal, please contact
Pamela Katz at 201-784-1414 Ext. 5532 by March 18th.

J E W I S H H O M E F A M I L Y :
Syril Rubin z”l , Of Blessed Memory
Charles P. Berkowitz, President & CEO, Jewish Home Family
While some time has passed since Syril’s passing this is our first newsletter since
then and I wanted to share my love for this family whose friendship goes back to
1964 when both of them warmly welcomed me into their extended family as I arrived
at the JCC in Englewood as a graduate student of social work at the Wurzweiler
School of Social Work of Yeshiva University. At the time I was a part-time student
at the Columbia School of Social Work and the JCC offered me a needed scholarship
to complete my graduate work. The warmth with which the Rubins greeted me, in
addition to the welcome that I got from George Hantgan, made my decision to complete
my graduate work at the JCC and to join the staff upon graduation very easy.
Our relationship from that day on was one of friendship and I also had the luxury
of getting to know their children – Danny, Robert and Leslie.
At the time that I became the CEO of the Jewish Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
in 1982, the first people with whom I spoke were Lenny and Syril and I asked Lenny
that he get involved with the JHRC on the Board of Directors and to help me to bring
more people from Bergen County as it was obvious to me and to the present Board
of Directors that the future survival of the Home depended on involving fresh blood.
While I was asking Lenny to find time for JHRC, Syril was in my corner telling him
the importance of the organization to the Bergen County community. I will tell you
it was an easy sell, as giving to the community and being a “Rubin” were synonymous.
For the next few years they were there to help assure the future of long term
care for our elderly. Be it by identifying new Board members or giving generously
to the annual campaigns of the Home both for operations and for capital construction,
the Rubins were in the forefront and played an important role in our successful
move to Bergen County.
We really hope you can make it, so…
SAVE THE DATE
Monday, May 20, 2013
The 19th Annual
Golf, Tennis & Card Outing
Honoring Howard Lippman
Held at:
Englewood Country Club, River Vale, NJ
For a fun-filled day of golf, tennis,
mah jong, bridge, & canasta, with tournament prizes,
raffle drawing, gifts and gourmet kosher food
Watch the mail this month for your invitation!
Please call us at
201-784-1414 Ext. 5539
When we completed the construction of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Syril became
a co-chair of the Art Committee, along with Roz Swire. They both helped us to identify
wonderful photographers and to pick out great pictures. The results can be witnessed
by visiting JHR. When the Assisted Living facility in River Vale was
completed, Syril joined as a member of the first Board of Directors at JHAL and again
took over the responsibility of choosing the art work at JHAL. Over these years the
one constant from visitors is their appreciation of the job done by Syril and Roz in
both facilities.
Syril was an extraordinary woman, who exhibited a profound commitment to people
of all ages as evidenced by her involvement in the local, national and international
Jewish Community.
Both Syril and Lenny have left behind an astounding philanthropic legacy that includes
many fine institutions that they helped conceive, develop and steward. Our
community has been blessed by their presence for so many years.
Passover Cards
In what has become a welcomed annual
tradition, the Jewish Home
Foundation offers the opportunity to
wish loved ones a sweet and happy
Passover holiday by making available
lovely Passover
Greeting Cards. Last
year, members of the
community sent over
1200 cards to friends
and family.
Uniquely designed for
the Jewish Home by
Judaic artist Morde -
chai Rosenstein, the
card’s artwork joyfully
illustrates the
family seder. The interior
of each card
reflects holiday wishes and is individually
printed with the sender’s
name, indicating that a donation has
been made to the Jewish Home in
honor of the recipient.
An $18 donation for each card
helps the Jewish Home Foundation
continue to provide
programs and care
to the elderly in
the Jewish Home at
Ro ckleigh, the Jewish
Home Assisted Liv -
ing, and the community.
To have cards sent,
please contact the
Foundation office at
201-784-1414 Ext.
5538 by February
22nd.
The first Seder is Monday evening,
March 25th.
OUR PATRONS’
Reflecting on Our Dear Friend
Writing on someone as unique and special as Syril Rubin is somewhat monumental,
realizing she was already a living legend; but there is still much to say. Oftentimes
I would see her walking around JHR with a watchful eye, stopping to converse with
residents. A few of us had the pleasure of a luncheon she hosted in her Fort Lee apartment
– just another example of her warmth and gracious hospitality.
Remembered for her mesmerizing and captivating expression, her extreme compassion
and wisdom, always thinking of wellness in mind, body and spirit for seniors and
children, everyone who touched her left enlightened and enervated. With each of her
accomplishments to help others she keenly continued onto new challenges, her eyes and
ears carefully attuned lest anything important be missed. Meanwhile she kept the home
fires burning – raising a large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
– loving each one as special. She wisely understood she was helping to leave direction for
others to follow.
Television personality Jerry Seinfeld said “If life boils down to one thing, it’s movement;
to live is to keep moving.” This was so true of Syril. She was profoundly loved and will
surely be missed.
Harold Cohn, Resident
Jewish Home at Rockleigh
The Feldman Family In Memory of Sol Feldman Mar 3
Barbara & Norman Seiden Wedding Anniversary Mar 3
Janet & Bernie Bober Wedding Anniversary Mar 5
Maggie & Bill Kaplen In Honor of Our Grandchildren Mar 6
The Platkin Family In Memory of Carl Platkin Mar 14
Angelica Berrie In Memory of Russ Berrie Mar 18
Lovey & Murray Beer Wedding Anniversary Mar 23
Jeanette & Seymour Spira Wedding Anniversary Mar 30
Bernice & Herb Levetown 58th Wedding Anniversary Apr 3
Cynthia & Stanley Low Wedding Anniversary Apr 3
Anita & Howard Blatt Wedding Anniversary Apr 4
Kathy & Richard Leventhal Wedding Anniversary Apr 6
Stephanie & Andrew Pittel Wedding Anniversary Apr 13
Mercadien, P.C. Estate Planning Apr 15
Kauderer & Leventhal Fam. Celebrate Yom Ha’Azma’ut Apr 16
Ethel & Irving Plutzer Wedding Anniversary Apr 18
The Hausmann Family In Memory of Werner Hausmann Apr 27
Susan & Chuck Silberman Wedding Anniversary May 3
Steven Morey Greenberg In Memory of Rhoda Greenberg May 6
Lynne & Marty Zaikov Wedding Anniversary May 7
Melissa & Noah Kalman Wedding Anniversary May 15
JoAnn & Martin Perlman Wedding Anniversary May 16
Barnett Design Established in 1991 May 21

The Caregiver Support Group
Shelley Steiner, LSW, Director of Social Services,
Gallen Adult Day Health Care Center
The Gallen Adult Day Health Care Center, through the sponsorship
of the Greater New Jersey Alzheimer’s Association,
holds a monthly caregiver support group on the first
Wednesday of each month, between 10:00 to 11:30 AM. The
group started in the small conference room of the GADHC
Center with a group of 5 to 6 members. However, with
increasing interest and need, the group outgrew the space and
relocated to the first floor social hall in the Jewish Home at
Rockleigh, now numbering 15. The support group is open to
anyone in the community as well as the families of the
GADHC program who care for a family member with
Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia.
The support group offers the opportunity, through a facilitator,
for caregivers to meet and discuss their feelings and
experiences in an open and supportive setting. Often members
share information and resources that can be beneficial in caring
for a loved one. Many have commented that they have come
away from the group with what they hoped to gain – a kind
and compassionate ear, the ability to share their experiences
with those who understand, and learning about available
resources.
Several meetings have featured guest speakers addressing
informative topics such as long term care options, up-to-date
research on medications, financial planning, elder law
concerns, end of life decision making, and the personal toll of
caregiving. The Alzheimer’s Association serves as an ongoing
resource to caregivers, providing speakers, educational material
and funding information.
For anyone interested in being added to the caregiver sup -
port group mailing list, please contact the Gallen Adult Day
Health Care Center at ssteiner@jewishhomeathome.org or
201-750-4238.
JH at Rockleigh Moves to Electronic Medical Records
Robert Bardach, Assistant Administrator, Jewish Home at Rockleigh
The Jewish Home at Rockleigh has taken a very
progressive step to keep pace with the movement
to modernize our operation by implementing an
Electronic Medical Record (EMR). On December
4th we went live with “Optimus EMR” and we will
gradually phase out our current paper documentation
kept in the medical chart. There are many advantages
to using an EMR versus a paper chart
which includes: real time entry, instant availability
of information to all clinicians, and automatic
reminders, alerts and parameters to assist staff giving
care.
Quality Assurance Reports are quickly produced
for survey readiness and it gives us the ability to
review compliance with our standards of practice.
The EMR gives remote access for managers and an
efficient way to review the daily completion of
clinical tasks. We have placed several “touch
screen kiosks” and computers on all nursing units
so that the staff can promptly enter data into the
EMR while providing care. Licensed nurses, dieticians,
social workers, recreation therapists and the
Rabbi are conducting assessments and progress
notes via the Optimus EMR. Our next phase will
involve the rollout of the Comprehensive Care
Plans, then the MDS (reimbursement form), and
after that, we will rollout the Medication and
Treatment modules.
Each phase involves a lot of staff education and
practice and we are using a “train the trainer” approach.
We have overcome any initial anxieties
about our staff’s ability to use these computer programs.
In fact, our aides have repeatedly stated
how happy they are with the system. The project
team from Optimus told us that we were one of the
best implementation partners they have ever
worked with. Our leadership staff in nursing included
the Assistant Director, Kathy Joven, the
Nurse Manager, Bibi Hameed and a group of nursing
assistants trained as “Superusers” who
coached, taught and supported other nursing staff.
We have achieved all of our initial goals on time,
even with the delay caused by Hurricane Sandy.
This exciting new project will also prepare us for
the future where hospitals and other service
providers (labs, pharmacies, X-ray companies) will
be able to receive our electronic information and
thereby reduce the dependency on paper documentation,
giving all parties more accurate, up-todate
information.
Honor Your Loved Ones
Jewish Home Employee Recognition Honorees
Program Sponsored by the Bella & Martin Himmelfarb Endowment Fund
Residents, Families and members of the community are invited to celebrate
birthdays and simchas, or honor/remember loved ones by sponsoring either
a Shabbat or Yom Tov Kiddush ($150), or by dedicating a large Print Holiday
Prayer Book ($36). For further information, contact the Development Office
at 201-784-1414 x5538.
Prayer Book sponsored by Elyse and Alan Trez
in memory of Charles Gugick
J. Lorenzo Alvarez
JHR Dec 2012
Pamela Katz
JHR Jan 2013
Sanjay Oommen
JHR Feb 2013
Madeline Lynch
JHAL Oct-Dec 2012
AT THE JEWISH HOMES
1
2
TO OUR RESIDENTS
Shirley Gendelman Mar 3
Laurie Weinberg Mar 6
Trudy Schloss Mar 8
Ruth Kalver Mar 12
Aaron Eldridge Mar 18
Shirley Malick Mar 19
Gertrude Sherman Mar 26
Ruth Bader Mar 27
Ruth Cord Mar 27
Viola Masterson Mar 27
Selma Cooperman Mar 29
Doris Nirenberg Mar 29
Phyllis Scharf Mar 29
Janet Katz Mar 30
Elizabeth Stasny Mar 30
Sophie Beldner Apr 2
Helen Schultz Apr 4
Miriam Lifshutz Apr 5
Sally Beutel Apr 7
Eda Aronoff Apr 8
Beverly Epstein Apr 10
Eva Almasi Apr 14
Mary Buckley Apr 14
Arline Sherman Apr 14
Marcella Peiskowitz Apr 18
Ursula Riess Apr 26
Millicent Brussel Apr 29
Lillian Naftel Apr 30
Anna Knel May 1
Irving Levine May 7
Lee Stone May 7
Florence Rosenthal May 9
Rosemary Boyle May 10
Msgr. William Koplik May 10
George Adler May 11
Barbara Cooper May 11
Grace Pleyer May 12
Gloria Menna May 17
Ben Ferrara May 20
Fred Jarrett May 21
Carrie Hain May 24
Helen Goldberg May 25
Shirley Doller May 29
Joe Leeds May 29
Beverly Bornstein May 31
Elinor Stein May 31
3
5 6
1. JHAL – Children visiting from Orangetown Jewish Center – with Elaine Fedder 12/12
2. JHAL – Marion Schreiber Making Latkes for Hanukkah 12/12
3. JHR – Lighting the Menorah with members of Temple Beth Shalom 12/12
4. JHR – Lighting the Menorah with Staff Members 12/12
5. GADHC – Rachel and Helen Celebrating the New Year 12/12
6. JHR – Holiday Party with NCJW members 12/12
4

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The Jewish Home Family ® Happenings
is published quarterly by the
Jewish Home Foundation
10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647
www.jewishhomefamily.org
Molly Shulman
Editor
Phone: 201-784-1414 x5539
Fax: 201-784-7049
email: mshulman@jewishhomefdtn.org
Melanie S. Cohen, CFRE
Executive Director, Jewish Home Foundation
Charles P. Berkowitz
President & CEO, Jewish Home Family ®
Charitable Solicitation Disclosure Statement: Jewish Home Foundation of North Jersey, Inc.
(“JHFoundation”) is a New Jersey non-profit corporation with its primary address and principle place of
business at 10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647.
New Jersey: Information filed with the Attorney General concerning this charitable solicitation and the
percentage of contributions received by the charity during the last reporting period that were dedicated to
the charitable purpose may be obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling
973-504-6215 and is available on the Internet at www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. Registration with the
Attorney General does not imply endorsement.
New York: A copy of JHFoundation’s latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, by writing to Jewish
Home Foundation, Attn: Melanie Cohen, Executive Director, 10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647 or from the
New York Sate Attorney General Charity Bureau, Attn: FOIL Officer, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
If you wish to unsubscribe to our mailing list, please contact us at 201-784-1414 x5539 or mshulman@jewishhomefdtn.org.
JH Assisted Living Hosts “The Syril Rubin Book Club”
Lauren Levant, Executive Director & Julie Cochrane, Director of Activities/Volunteer Services,
Jewish Home Assisted Living
This past fall, the Jewish Home Assisted Living lost
one of our beloved board members, Syril Rubin. Syril
and her family were a vital part of the creation of the
assisted living facility. Syril was a co-chairperson of
the Art Committee which helped beautify the halls of
JHAL and JHR. The efforts of the Art Committee have
truly added to the home-like feel of the building that
we strive for, and many have commented that they feel
as if they’re in a museum of art.
To keep her memory alive, as she contributed so much
to the community, a private donor has sponsored a
book club at JHAL. Through this funding, we have been
able to secure a trained professional to come in monthly
and lead our residents in book selections and group
discussions. The residents of JHAL ultimately select the
book and then Grace Oliff leads an intellectual discussion
on both fiction and non-fiction selections.
Through this activity, the residents are reading classics
and modern themed topics. They have read: “The
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” and “I
am Amelia Earhart,” and are currently reading
“Nemesis.” “The variety of books have been so enjoyable,”
said a member of the book club.
Mrs. Oliff is presently a librarian at a local Bergen
County elementary school. Previously she taught at
Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.
Syril had a love for the liberal arts, including reading
and music. While JHAL had a book club before bringing
in a trained professional, this has brought the club
to higher levels of discussion, group participation and
has helped foster the love of reading to those who
reside at the Jewish Home Assisted Living.
The Jewish Home at Rockleigh
Russ Berrie Home for Jewish Living
has been awarded the
National Jewish Programming
Award
for its
Monthly Jewish Home / NCSY
Shabbaton Program
“Youth Re’Jew’Venating Seniors”
To be accepted in Beverly Hills at the
March 2013 Annual Meeting of the
Association of Jewish Aging Services
www.jewishhomefamily.org
Administration 201-750-4230
Business Office 201-750-4232
Volunteer Services 201-750-4237
Development/Public Relations 201-750-4231
www.jewishhomerockleigh.org
Main Number 201-784-1414
Main Fax 201-784-0006
Administration 201-750-4246
Social Services 201-750-4243
Admissions/Marketing/Tours 201-750-4234
Recreation 201-518-1171
Human Resources 201-750-4235
Director of Nursing 201-750-4242
Medical/Dental Suites 201-784-8209
Rehabilitation Services 201-750-4236
www.jhalnj.org
Main Number 201-666-2370
Main Fax 201-664-7111
Administration 201-478-4260
Health Services 201-478-4263
Business Office 201-478-4261
Marketing & Sales 201-478-4262
www.jewishhomeathome.org
Jewish Home at Home 201-750-4247
Gallen Adult Day Health Care 201-750-4238