The A Jewish Exponent Supplement Celebrating Today’s Active Seniors • May 14, 2015 A ‘lion’ of judah 2 MAY 14, 2015 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM .com/ jewishexponent The Good Life .com/ jewishexponent A supplement to the Jewish Exponent May 14, 2015 Don’t Just Retire… Start Living . ™ 4 The Circle of Love Michael Elkin 12 Foreign Aide Jeffrey F. Barken/JNS.org 14 Tapping the Mettle of Golden Agers Maayan Jaffe/JNS.org 16 Never Too Old for S’Mores Debra Rubin/Jewish Telegraphic Agency 18 Big Wheels Turning … Abigail Klein Leichman/Israel21c Publisher’s Representative/ General Manager Steven Rosenberg Executive Editor Lisa Hostein Editor Michael Elkin Design Director Joseph Kemp Production Director Josephine Kukuka Prepress Manager Salvatore Patrone Traffic Manager Elizabeth Thompson Production Control Manager Tery Moran-Lever Production Artists Lud Hughes Lionell Robinson Classified Sales Beverly Aldorasi Nick Staller Advertising Representatives Taylor Orlin Sharon Schmuckler Bruce Wartell Marketing Director Joshua Hersz Accounting Manager Cheryl Lutts Finance Assistant Marie Malvoso Subscriptions Nicole McNally On the cover: The Cohen/Kogan family, veteran Lion King fans, (back row, from left) are Judy Cohen, Murray Cohen, Mark Kogan and (front row, from left) Olivia Kogan, “cast member” Nala, Danielle Kogan, and Jen Kogan. Photo by JA Kemp. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM At Beaumont, there is no one-size-fi ts-all retirement - you choose your own lifestyle. Stay active with our ultra-modern aquatic, fi tness, library and art centers. Enjoy the elegance of the newly renovated Austin Mansion with its spectacular music room and nine full-service dining rooms. Choose to participate in community events, enjoy nearby Main Line and Philadelphia attractions, or stroll along our woodland trails. You can choose to be as independent as you like, secure in the knowledge that Beaumont, a nationally-recognized CCRC, completely cares for your comfort, health and well-being. Choose Beaumont, and start living! A Vibrant, Resident-Owned Retirement Community Contact Audrey Walsh at 610-526-7000 for information or a personal tour, or visit www.BeaumontRetirement.com. 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr | 610-526-7000 JEWISH EXPONENT MAY 14, 2015 3 The Circle of Love ©DISNEY. PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS Teaching reverence for the wisdom and knowledge of the elders, ‘The Lion King’ is a Lion of Judah Michael Elkin L et others be nonchalant, sing “Hakuna Matata,” and feel trouble-free: When you’re The Lion King, you’ve got a prideful of problems and re- sponsibilities. After all, it’s a jungle out there. But among the thousands who have gravitated toward the Broadway hit in the past 20 years — including those snatch- ing up tickets for its return to Philadelphia’s Academy of Mu- sic, May 20 to June 14 — some contend that there’s much Jew- ish pride to be taken in this tale of the African Pride Land. And much of that pride fo- cuses on the Jewish conceit of respect for the elders in the com- munity. “If ever there were a theater piece that so nearly speaks to Judaism and Jewish tradition, this is certainly it,” asserts Can- tor Marshall Portnoy of Main Line Reform Temple. He should know: Each year he accompanies the Junior Jam- mers — the name of the temple’s children’s choir — on a musi- cally themed trip to Manhattan. Next month, he’ll do so again, heading to The Lion King for the second time in 20 years. Why? Because, in part, the musical fosters a certain un- derstanding between children and their elders — a virtue in the vanguard of Jewish values — that is hard to come by in to- day’s society. This is “nowhere better ex- emplified,” he says, than in the reverence shown Mufasa, the ti- tle character. “If ever there were a theater piece that so nearly speaks to Judaism and Jewish tradition, this is certainly it.” —Cantor Marshall Portnoy It doesn’t stop with him. One of the other key charac- ters, the wisdom-soaked, grey- haired mandril, Rafiki, says Portnoy, offers lessons to Sim- ba, the young lion in line for the throne, about the respect he should have “for all who have gone before.” Ponder the possibilities of tradition, advises Rafiki: “When Rafiki takes Simba to a pond where he gazes up at the sky, we cannot help but be moved by the memory of father Abraham, when God beckoned him to look at the sky and count the stars,” says Portnoy. “The stars shown to Abra- ham are promises of the future; the stars on which Simba gazes are promises of the past. “Yet, the lesson of The Lion King and the lesson of Judaism is the same: There is no ‘past’ and no ‘future’; there is but a divine continuum of space and time in which we are all privi- leged to sing our songs, write Continued on page 6 4 MAY 14, 2015 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Luxury Rental Apartment Homes for Residents 55+ Dublin Terrace in Eastern Montgomery County, Upper Dublin Township, PA Spacious apartments from 1 bedroom 1-1/2 bath & den to 2 bedroom 2-1/2 bath, den & dining room Beautiful clubhouse with fitness center and swimming pool Underground garage parking available Complimentary fitness classes & other resident activities Call or visit Dublin Terrace 1.866.672.6624 S. Limekiln Pike/Route 152 & Dreshertown Rd., Dresher, PA 19025 www.dublinterrace.com A Bruce Toll Community JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT MAY 14, 2015 5 Circle of Love Nick Cordileone (left) as Timon and Cherry Hill native Ben Lipitz as Pumbaa in the production of The Lion King coming to the Academy of Music, starting May 20. continued from page 4 our poems and play together in a great circle — blee reshit, blee tachhlit — without beginning and without end.” It takes a jungle, it takes a shtetl: Portnoy cites the show’s lyrical “He Lives in You” — “which sounds very much like a Jewish prayer, except it’s part- ly in African, not Hebrew!” — as a bow and curtsy to the magnifi- cence of ancestral wisdom: ©DISNEY. PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS “He lives in you. He lives in me. He watches over Everything we see. Into the water. Into the truth. In your reflection He lives in you.” Paula Goldstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Great- er Philadelphia, agrees. “As Simba grows up, he em- braces his father’s value of com- munal responsibility and takes the reins to lead his kingdom,” she says. The musical “represents the bittersweet aspects of family life, with Simba ultimately tak- ing hold of the responsibility that his father had” as he “rises to be a leader of the lion nation.” Jewish communal leader, theatrical cognoscenti and emi- nent Philadelphia attorney Lou Fryman has more than earned the love, respect and admiration of his own grandchildren. In a way he is their Fryman king. As a zayde well familiar with the message-bestowing musical, he sees the show as emblemat- Continued on page 8 “We have never been so pampered in all our lives!” Cathedral Village R Cathedral Village® offers luxurious apartments and fabulous amenities. Our stimulating lifestyle envelops every passion, like fitness, technology, art, music, literature and horticulture. Sculpt your own David on Monday and plant veggies on Tuesday. Join friends in Center City on Wednesday. Need a rest? We’ve got 40 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds just waiting to be explored at your leisure. Call 215-984-8620 today to schedule a personal visit. ® years of excellence 1979 - 2014 600 East Cathedral Road Philadelphia, PA 19128 215-487-1300 www.cathedralvillage.com Ask Us About CARE at Cathedral Village ® Short-Term Rehabilitation and Wellness Call 215-984-8695 to learn about our physical, speech, aquatic and occupational therapies & pain management. A premier continuing care retirement community 6 MAY 14, 2015 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM it’s aBoUt comiNg up for aIr. RYDAL PARK RESIDENT EDITH IN THE INDOOR POOL It’s the power to choose what you feel like doing and when. 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PLUS!” – Armind and Nancy JA KEMP They just can’t wait to see King: Clockwise, from top left, are Judy Cohen, Murray Cohen, Mark Kogan, Jen Kogan, Danielle Kogan, “cast member” Nala, and Olivia Kogan ic of what Jewish tradition and reverence for age are all about, calling the musical “a thought- ful, impressive and subtle mes- sage of family structure,” with “a presentation of family val- ues: respect, authority and de- votion.” South Jersey’s Ben Lipitz has devoted a chunk of his own life- Special pricing on select 2 bedroom apartments Limited Availability Call (267) 460-8100 today! Find the Jewish Exponent on your favorite social media 8 MAY 14, 2015 .com/jewishexponent .com/jewishexponent .com/jewishexponent THE GOOD LIFE forebears, those who came be- fore us who made a path for us to assume.” And for children, that means being tutored in the sagacity of the elders, allowing young- sters “to step into adulthood,” says Lipitz, with the boost of the braintrust that came before. That sense of respect certain- “When Simba is out there hanging onto a tree and his father saves him, it showed me how parents will always be there for you.” —Danielle Kogan time portraying Pumbaa, the musical’s worry-free — if gas- filled — warthog on Broadway and in the tour that is coming to Philadelphia. The Cherry Hill actor, 51, is celebrating his Bar Mitzvah year in the role. Being part of The Lion King experience for 13 years has him roaring with approval for the Jewish tenets it manifests. The musical fosters “respect for our ly has hit home for 13-year-old twins Olivia and Danielle Ko- gan of Huntingdon Valley. The show has “taught me the importance of appreciat- ing and respecting” her parents and grandparents, says Olivia, and their efforts to make a bet- ter world. “When Simba is out there hanging onto a tree,” amid a stampede by wildebeests, “and Continued on page 10 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM “Stop by...I’m here all week!"  Now Touring ... 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Nestled on 96 majestic acres adjacent to a state park. Enjoy the beauty of nature without the work. 535 Gradyville, Newtown Sq., PA www.whitehorsevillage.org (610) 558-5000 10 MAY 14, 2015 THE GOOD LIFE Five generations of women were present when twins Danielle and Olivia Kogan were babies. Between them is their great-great-grandmother, Rose Benson. Behind Rose is great-grandmother Shirley Oxenberg with Judy Cohen on her right and Jen Kogan on her left. his father saves him, it showed me how parents will always be there for you,” says the daugh- ter of Jen and Mark Kogan. As their grandparents, Mur- ray and Judy Cohen are major components of the twins’ cir- cle of life. The teens — recent B’nai Mitzvah at Old York Road Temple-Beth Am in Abington, where Murray Cohen is con- says, from her own grandmoth- er, Rose Benson, who lived to be 105 and interacted with the twins before she died. Indeed the twins are all part of an expanded circle that cov- ers five generations of women, including Judy’s own mother, Shirley Oxenberg, 91. Apparently, one can never be too young to glean the messag- Judy Cohen especially felt a kinship for the musical missive, she says, “which shows we all have interdependent roles to play in the family,” a lesson for and about the ages. gregational president — covet the time they spend encircled by the moral force that is their bubbe and zayde. And the grandparents recip- rocate 360. Judy Cohen especial- ly felt a kinship for the musical missive, she says, “which shows we all have interdependent roles to play in the family,” a lesson for and about the ages. This bubbe bubbles about her own expanded family cir- cle; she learned so much, she es of the musical. Ava Endy, 5, attends pre-K at the Richard E. Rudolph Jr. Preschool of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park. The youngster lik- ens her own great-grandfather, Harry Blask, to Mufasa and felt a special affinity for The Lion King. Both Mufasa and her za- yde are good, she says, and look out for their community, wheth- er cubs or cuties like herself. “He saves people and he helps me,” she says of her grand- JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Ava Endy likens her great-grandfather to Mufasa. father. Mufasa and mitzvot? Rafi- ki and reverence? It is all good, adds Portnoy, the cantor from Main Line Reform, all part of the bigger picture. “As we say whenever our Torah is read, chadesh yameinu kedem, renew for us our first days and first dreams,” he notes. “As the Circle of Life con- tinues its inevitable swirl and flow, we will always face new challenges and circumstances, some daunting, yet always find core strength and direction in the eternal values of our God.” Michael Elkin is features editor of the Jewish Exponent. 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E A G L E P O I N T E A 55+ Maintenance Free Clubhouse Community arboursateaglepointe.com 12 MAY 14, 2015 Directions: Rt. 1 to Southampton Rd. - right into Community LOVE. LIFE. HERE. ™ anet Tauro and Varda Ka- hanovich made a deal up- on which their lives depend. Tauro, a foreign worker from Mumbai, provides Kahanovich, a 90-year-old Israeli woman liv- ing on Kibbutz Maagan Michael, warm and devoted care. In re- turn, Kahanovich hopes to live a long and happy life, well be- yond her current age, with Tau- ro as caregiver. Morbid as it may be to con- template an old woman’s pass- ing, for Tauro and the 60,000 other foreign workers current- ly employed as caregivers in Is- raeli households, the stakes are high. Work visas are patient-de- pendent and are granted for four years and three months, with no extensions or opportunities for reassignment in the event of the elder person’s death. Following the patient’s death, a caretaker must return to his or her country of origin, terminating a source of income that has provided countless op- portunities for their families. The lots of the elderly and the caretaker are intertwined. The situation of Tauro and Kahanovich is a familiar one in the Jewish state. “Today the foreign caregiv- er that lives with the patient — this is the most common way to grow old in Israel,” said Yaron Bengera, vice president of Yad Beyad, a Tel Aviv-based agen- cy that recruits foreign workers. “In the past, patients would be taken care of by their family, but this is changing fast. With more capitalism and more de- manding lives, it gets harder.” There is a consensus among Israelis that caring for the elder- ly is demanding work. Many se- nior citizens require constant supervision and assistance. De- spite their best efforts, working adults — balancing careers and young families — buckle under the pressures of modern life in Israel and are unable to provide adequate care for their aging parents without hiring help. THE GOOD LIFE Varda Kahanovich (left) bonds with her caretaker, Janet Tauro. Yad Beyad helps Israeli fam- ilies find the right caregiver to suit their specific needs. The agency also supports foreign workers, providing information about their rights and cultural resources, and counseling them to ensure their success as care- takers. In the case of Tauro and Kahanovich, a perfect match was made. “I was astonished to see such a beautiful girl. She is my friend,” said Edna Oren, re- counting the day that Tauro first arrived at Maagan Michael to take care of her twin sister. In this case, the culture shock was minimal since Tauro had previous experience work- ing in another Israeli home and she had even learned Hebrew. “We are so lucky,” said Oren. “There are not many people like Janet. She has two brains, not one, and she has four hands. She even learned to sing ‘Hatikvah,’ ” the Israeli national anthem. Tauro said she works as a caretaker but also works “from my heart.” In her first job as a caretaker, she looked up Israeli songs on YouTube, singing and dancing with the woman she served. She even learned her pa- tient’s style of cooking. “My motive is to make her feel like she is living in her own house and can make her own de- cisions,” Tauro said of Kahanov- ich. The system is not without faults. Many foreign workers suffer emotional distress, hav- ing been separated from their children and families abroad. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Likewise, difficult work environments have, on occasion, re- sulted in abuse. “You’re always de- pendent on your em- ployer for your qual- ity of life,” said No- ra Lender, Kibbutz Maagan Michael’s administration man- ager for the elderly welfare. Both Lend- er and Bengera con- firm having person- ally witnessed cas- es where employers physically and men- tally abused foreign workers. Hidden cameras have caught caretakers hitting el- derly patients and re- vealed neglect. “Like anything Janet Tauro has picked up some in life, you take a Hebrew since coming to Israel chance,” added Lend- from Mumbai. er. Israel may not be perfect- the fathers become the moth- ly adapted to support a foreign ers,” he noted. “Sometimes work force, but a significant ef- mothers don’t go back to their fort has been made to inform husbands. The women feel free workers of their rights, regulate here. We are not sure that this payment and provide a genuine is for the better.” welcome. By law, workers are Patriarchal and traditionally entitled to a base salary of 4,300 closed societies are being pried NIS ($1,235) per month, out of open by what Bengera calls the which employers can make de- “global competition for a work- ductions accounting for the live- force.” Israel is providing a path in caretaker’s room and board. of escape to some individuals Contracts also stipulate that and a sound mechanism for so- caretakers receive nine paid cial mobility. holidays based on their own Critics may call the system country’s calendar, and 150-per- exploitative, calling the isola- cent pay on weekends. tion that foreign workers en- It is not a competitive salary dure borderline inhumane. from a Western perspective, yet “If a first-degree relative is it “can be life-changing for fami- working in Israel, it is almost lies in the third world,” Bengera impossible” for his or her kin explained. “to visit,” Bengera noted. “If you had a country that But workers like Tauro tell a you could work in and then you different story. Asked how she could buy your own house, put copes with being so far away your kids through school, you from her two children, she said, would take this opportunity,” “It’s not the hardest part of my he said. job, it’s the hardest part of my According to Kavlaoved. life.” org, a website and hotline pro- Life’s circumstances led Tau- viding an overview of foreign ro to the conclusion that seeking workers’ experiences in Isra- work abroad was the best way el, nearly 80 percent of foreign to provide for her children, and caregivers in Israel are female. she is committed to the course “We prefer to bring female she chose, no matter the hard- caretakers with families to Is- ship. rael because they need the in- “Everything I earn is for my come and are better motivated,” kids’ education. I believe in edu- Bengera said. cation,” Tauro said, adding that Bengera is conscious that the her work will be complete on- presence of this workforce is af- ly when her children can stand fecting the culture of Israel, as up on their own and say, “Mom, well as that of the foreign work- we’re done with the help. Now ers’ native countries. we want to help you, it’s our “In the worker’s homeland, turn.” JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Evaluation • Assessment • Referral ARE YOU Guidance Choosing Assisted Living & Nursing Homes BECOMING Crisis Intervention • Counseling • Medicaid A PARENT Moving Services & Cleanouts Bill Paying For Elders TO YOUR AGE WISE FAMILY SERVICES PARENTS .com/ jewishexponent .com/ jewishexponent Geriatric Care Management ? 1250 Glenburnie Lane, Dresher, PA 19025 (215) 659-2111 www.agewisefamilyservices.com WE CAN HELP! Susan Weiss-Cedillos, MA, CMC OVER 25 YEARS! Lifetime Income for Retirement. And an even greater outcome for Israel, science and education. 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AT KLEINLIFE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY formerly known as Klein Active Adult Center • Free Daily Kosher Lunch and Free Transportation • Lifelong Learning Classes • Chess, Mah Jong and Knitting • Fitness and Health Programs • Current Events, Book Reviews, and Art Lectures • Holiday and Multi-Cultural Activities Tapping the Mettle of Golden Agers Seniors have their moments as volunteers Maayan Jaffe/JNS.org Call us today! 215-635-5244 KleinLife: Montgomery County is funded in part by Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services with a generous gift from Bud & Judith Newman,the Goodman Family Philanthropic Fund and the Elias Family Foundation KleinLife is a nationally accredited senior center. KleinLife operates in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey and is a beneficiary of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Mondays to Thursdays, 9:45am to 2:00pm • 215-635-5244 Members of the Chesed Corps lend a helping hand. NEW! Opening AUGUST 2015 Peek inside. Our models are now open! A new concept in senior living – completely customized support, uniquely sophisticated surroundings, and unparalleled hospitality. We’ve begun showing our elegantly furnished models. Be among the first to take a look. Visit our Welcome Center in Paoli Shopping Center or call 610-640-4000 to schedule a special ‘hard hat tour.’ 14 MAY 14, 2015 THE GOOD LIFE A ge can be just a number. “Just because someone is older or has limita- tions does not mean” that he or she “cannot continue to be valu- able and make a difference for others,” said Carol Silver Elliott, president and CEO of Cedar Vil- lage Retirement Community in Mason, Ohio. It was with this in mind that Cedar Village’s Chesed Corps was established in 2009. Elliot said the group, the brainchild of a former director of resident programming, came when staff- ers realized that many of the center’s 300 residents had been successful businesspeople and engaged community volunteers before moving to Cedar Village, and that there was an opportuni- ty to harness their drive. “We felt there was no reason for them to stop contributing to our general community just be- cause they lived in a retirement community,” Elliott said. Since then, a sizeable co- hort of residents has been mak- ing Shabbat baskets each week, which are delivered to Jew- ish patients at area hospitals. Monthly, they participate in larger projects, such as serving lunch at the Ronald McDonald House or offering music and a meal to the residents of the Cen- ter for Respite Care, a shelter for homeless men with short-term medical needs. Participants serve at soup kitchens, collect and sort school supplies for underprivileged children, and bake and ship cookies for American troops. “It is just absolutely amaz- ing,” said Elaine Dumes, 88, who has been active with the Chesed Corps since its inception. She said it makes her feel good to give back to the community, and that she tries not to miss a program. “I fell in the beginning of De- cember in my apartment and I broke my femur,” Dumes ex- plained. “I had to go upstairs to the health care unit for a month. But I fought my way back down and had an amazing and quick recovery — in part, it was due to this, to wanting to get back to the Chesed Corps.” Elliot said Cedar Village is careful to staff each volunteer opportunity appropriately to en- sure the safety of the residents. Not every person can take part in every project; some volun- teer in the building, while oth- ers are more comfortable going JEWISHEXPONENT.COM It’s a wrap: Chesed Corps volunteers make sandwich wraps for the Ronald McDonald House. out. She said that seeing the vol- unteers in action, she is often unsure who gets more out of it, “the folks we are helping or our folks themselves. They often for- get their own concerns as they focus on someone else’s needs.” Chesed Corps recently re- ceived two national awards for its work, one from the Associ- ation of Jewish Aging Services and another from Partners in Senior Life. They are not alone in their activity. In Philadelphia, Jew- ish Family and Children’s Ser- vice of Greater Philadelphia (267-256-2082) offers such an option as well. It can be called “the service without a name,” joked Robin Henkin, supervisor of volunteer service at JFCS. But their aim is a serious one — helping those elderly who need a little help with getting on in life. The volunteers go in- to the homes of those seeking a boost, “assist them with trans- portation, companionship, pa- per work, helping them pack when they have to move,” Hen- kin said of the program made up of volunteers of a variety of ages but with many retired seniors — more than 60 who are age 65 and older. They, in turn, provide di- rect assistance to 125 older adult clients, she said. In Northwest Baltimore, older residents of an entire neighborhood are giving back through a supported communi- ty network, which was launched by Comprehensive Housing As- sistance, Inc., in March 2013. According to program di- rector Risyl Edelman, North- west Neighbors Connecting is a grassroots, membership-based model in which services are pro- vided to seniors by other senior members, volunteers and vet- ted vendors. It gives the area’s aging population the practical means and confidence to live in- JEWISHEXPONENT.COM dependently and remain in their homes and community. The organization was creat- ed after a 2010 Jewish commu- nity study revealed the 85-years- and-older population increased by 166 percent since 1999, and that 40 percent of Baltimore Jewish seniors over 65 who are living alone are in poor or fair health. Edelman said members are interviewed to learn what skills they can “easily and happily” share with others, and to deter- mine any needs they have. “After they sign up, we plug them in,” said Edelman. “While our vision is to assist people to remain in their homes for as long as possible, our work is to get them out of their house as much as possible.” Currently, there are more than 170 members of the Neigh- bors program and another 70 people involved with the ini- tiative in some way. The oldest volunteer is 92. Transportation and technology assistance are among the top volunteer servic- es provided. In Florida, older adults and ba- by boomer volunteers are trained to function as liaisons, resource specialists, peer counselors and agency envoys in their own gated communities through the Ferd and Gladys Alpert Jewish Fami- ly and Children Services agency. Called “Ambassadors,” the pro- gram creates a trained network of seniors who can solve problems and support their frail neighbors. Some 13,000 elderly people live in West Palm Beach retire- ment communities, and as ma- ny as 70 percent of the area’s over-65 community is Jewish. “This is civic engagement at the basic level,” said Jenni Frumer, the JFCS CEO. Frumer said ambassadors are trained by JFCS to identi- fy neglect, listen and offer em- pathy in times of crisis and of- fer personal planning advice to their peers. The volunteers cre- ated their own end-of-life plan- ning guide, which they distrib- ute throughout their retirement communities. They also write and act out skits at area synagogues and other venues, educating seniors about matters such as the need to wear their hearing aids, to re- member to put their emergency alert buttons on in the morning, and to improve dialogue with their adult children. “Our older adults can still teach us how to make the world a better place,” said Cedar Vil- lage’s Elliot. “Their example of commitment and volunteerism speaks volumes about Jewish values and our obligation to help others.” Having Difficulty Caring for an Aging Loved One? • Our law firm is dedicated to helping families who are overwhelmed or confused by all of the decisions they have to make about how to pay for long-term health care. • We can often assist clients in increasing their income and obtaining benefits to help defray the cost of long ter m care at home, in assisted living facilities, adult medical day care, and in nursing homes. • Did you know there are Veterans benefits that Veterans or Widow(er)s of Veterans can receive to supplement income to pay for health care costs at home, in Assisted Living Facilities, Adult Jerold E. Rothkoff Medical Day Care, and in Nursing Homes? Elder Law Attorney Cherry Hill, NJ Turnersville, NJ* Offi ces in: Philadelphia, PA NE Phila/Lower Bucks * NEW OFFICE LOCATION 877-475-1101 www.rothkofflaw.com Free Telephone Consultation House Calls Available SPECIAL OFFER Call us to request your complimentary copy of our “Nuts and Bolts Guide to Veterans Benefits for Seniors” 856.616.2923 215.546.5800 To register & find out more about our seminars, visit our website. “ It’s the smartest thing we’ve ever done.” – STEVE AND SONNY HURST A charitable gift annuity (CGA) with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev offers you high fixed-rate income for life and amazing tax benefits. It also supports exceptional education for Israel’s young people, and forges pioneering research in medicine, renewable energies, water resource management, desert agriculture, and more. FIXED LIFETIME RATES Age 65 70 75 80 85 90 Rate 6% 6.5% 7.1% 8% 9.5% 11.3% 69.6% 72.8% 75.4% 77.9% 81.8% 84% Tax Free* * In the month you use cash to establish a gift annuity, a final calculation is made determining the portion that will be paid to you tax-free. To learn more or to request a CGA rate illustration, contact us by e-mail at winickc@aabgu.org or call 215-884-4510. 261 Old York Road, #417A Q JEWISH EXPONENT Jenkintown, PA 19046 Q midatlantic@aabgu.org Q www.aabgu.org MAY 14, 2015 15 Never Too Old for S’Mores Senior campers find their place in the sun Debra Rubin/Jewish Telegraphic Agency Photos courtesy of the Isabella Friedman Jewish Retreat Center For Adults 60-years Plus FUN ACTIVITIES • Live Entertainment • Lectures • Music and Dancing • Movies and Popcorn • Games HEALTH AND WELLNESS • Fitness and Exercise, Yoga • Health Screenings • Health Education Programs and Seminars SOCIAL SERVICES • Available When You Require Support Plus a free hot meal* served every day and arrangements for CCT transportation *$1 optional contribution KleinLife operates in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey and is a beneficiary of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. KleinLife is an accredited senior center. Rhawnhurst 2102 Strahle Street • Philadelphia, PA 19152 Tuesdays to Fridays, 9:30am to 2:00pm • 215-745-3127 RIDE YOUR STAIRS! Before You Buy Or Rent Just Any Electric Stairway Elevator Check Our Features & Services SALE OR RENT LOW LOW PRICES Locally Owned & Operated for 50 Years ● Expert Installation ● Fast Maintenance Service ● Free Consultation ● Ride Upstairs Guard Your Health STAIR RIDE CO. (215) 442-1531 www.stairrideco.com 16 MAY 14, 2015 Camp Isabella Freedman will be held from July 6 to July 19 this year. N ot many people attend summer camp with their parents. Mindelle Pierce went with her mom when her mother was in her 90s. They chose a two-week pro- gram for senior adults at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Re- treat Center in Falls Village, Conn. Aside from typical camp activities such as swimming and arts and crafts, there were myriad specialty programming for senior adults: lectures on health and nutrition, geneal- ogy, flowers of the Torah, and biblical prophets, as well as trips to area cultural activities, including the theater and the philharmonic. Some 80 participants rang- ing in age from their 50s to 90s attended the camp. The Isabella Freedman pro- gram is among a number of se- nior camp programs across the United States, including a hand- ful that are geared to Jews. Yet despite the growing population THE GOOD LIFE of American senior citizens, the number of senior camps has been dropping slightly, accord- ing to the American Camp As- sociation, which has 225 senior camps as members. That has made for a challeng- ing environment for Jewish se- nior camps, too. One such camp, the Block and Hexter Vacation Center in Pennsylvania’s Po- cono Mountains, closed due to lack of demand. With more re- sorts available in exotic locales and seniors more active than they were a few decades ago, mountain camps have lost some of their cachet. “The new senior is more ac- tive and discriminating in taste than the senior of prior genera- tions,” said Elliot Forchheimer, assistant director of the New Jer- sey Y Camps. The camps will be hosting Russian Jewish adults at the Kislak Adult Center for two weeks in June and two weeks in August, in Lakewood, Pa., about three hours from Philadelphia. Of those attending in the past, one group, said Phyllis Lauer, administrative direc- tor of the center, came from the Klein JCC. To help stem the tide, some camps have changed or are plan- ning changes to their offerings in hope of attracting a new gen- eration of older adults. “With tweaks and changes, these programs should be able to thrive,” said Adam Wein- stein, director of the Berkshire Hills Emanuel Camps-Adult Va- cation Center in Copake, N.Y., which offers kosher food and Shabbat services. There are plans to split the summer into five one-week programs. “We’re looking at programs that will also bring in a young- er crowd of seniors,” said Irene Drantch, director of the Cir- cle Lodge Retreat in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., an 85-plus-year- old facility that is affiliated with Workmen’s Circle and draws anywhere from 25 people a week JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Building 5000 Already 50% Sold Out! The 400-acre Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center features the beautiful Lake Miriam and (below, top to bot- tom) includes a glass-walled synagogue, a 2,000-square foot lounge, two air conditioned yurts and much more. 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Pairing sightseeing with ed- ucational lectures is the raison d’etre for Road Scholar, former- ly known as Elderhostel, which offers about a dozen Jewish pro- grams that explore Jewish cul- ture, history and religion. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Jewish programming has been available since the organi- zation was founded more than three decades ago, and Road Scholar works with an array of Jewish organizations, muse- ums, synagogues and educators, according to its public and me- dia relations office. • 5 star deluxe hotels • All breakfasts and dinners (except one night in Jerusalem) • Comprehensive sightseeing • Wonderful evening entertainment • Cocktail parties - live music and more • Wine Tasting • Always surprise extras! Browse Photos, Order Brochures, Register Now! 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MAY 14, 2015 17 Big Wheels Turning … Israeli invention stands out — and up — in field of wheelchairs Abigail Klein Leichman/Israel21c T he robotic ReWalk exo- skeleton from Israel’s Ar- go Medical Technologies, featured on prime time’s Glee, Time magazine’s list of greatest inventions of 2013 and at the Lon- don Marathon, will be a hard act to follow. But the ReWalk’s inven- tor, Amit Goffer, is hoping to score another hit with a new innovative wheelchair, UP- nRIDE, designed for people like himself who cannot ben- efit from the ReWalk because they are quadriplegic and don’t have full functionality in their arms. (The ReWalk is only to be used by those who are para- plegic and paralyzed below the waist.). UPnRIDE will enable many wheelchair users to be fully mo- bile in standing position any- where, including in an urban environment, says Oren Tamari, CEO of RehaMed Technologies. “After seven years at Argo, and after bringing the ReWalk to where it is now, I am current- ly working with Amit Goffer on a new product that will improve the quality of life and health of all wheelchair users,” Tamari says. “This is very meaningful, because we know that not ev- ery wheelchair user can use the ReWalk. This new solution can fit almost everyone who uses a wheelchair.” As a category, the standing wheelchair is not a new product. These devices have been shown to improve circulation, elimina- tion and bone density, and could also improve overall quality of life and independence among wheelchair users. What’s different about the UPnRIDE? “The twist we bring here is Renderings of the UPnRIDE device illustrate how it can be of great assistance to paraplegics at both home and the office. 18 MAY 14, 2015 THE GOOD LIFE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM the stabilization,” says Tamari. “Other solutions on the mar- ket may only be used indoors because they move the center of gravity out of the chair and there would be a fall on a slope. The UPnRIDE will stabilize the user no matter what surface he rides on. He’ll stay vertical to the ground even if it’s uneven or sloping. This is the essence of this product, because we can maintain the center of gravity and allow full mobility in stand- ing position.” The UPnRIDE also was de- signed with ejectable arms as an emergency safety feature for abled.’ This is an issue of self-es- teem.” A team of engineers from a range of disciplines has been developing the device in Ramat Yishai, in the north of Israel. Tamari, a physicist with a mas- ter’s in business administra- tion, heads the company while founder Goffer (who remains ac- tively involved in Argo Medical Technologies) is the president and chief technology officer. Having filed patent applica- tions, UPnRIDE is in the design phase now, and RehaMed is cur- rently in the midst of a $1 mil- lion fundraising round. The device will easily transform from sitting to standing positions so that wheelchair users could partake of normal everyday activities in a more seamless way than is currently possible. extreme terrain, “like airbags in a car,” says Tamari. Under most conditions, the auto-balance mechanism would be sufficient. The device will easily trans- form from sitting to standing po- sitions so that wheelchair users could partake of normal every- day activities in a more seam- less way than is currently pos- sible. “The standing mechanism of our product also is different. We do it with something similar to braces and straps, while in oth- er solutions it is done with a fixture in front of the user that does not allow sitting next to a table.” Perhaps just as important- ly, Tamari adds, “We’ll use in- dustrial design it in a way that it will look more like a Segway, so when people see the user of this device they won’t think ‘dis- Says Tamari: “We have a plan of about two years to intro- duce the first model, and then we will do some improvements and add-ons. Advanced models will allow reclining and joint training, as well.” The market could be lucra- tive, given that the number of global wheelchair and mobility scooter users in developed coun- tries is 8.2 million and growing annually by 5 percent, accord- ing to RehaMed research. About 61 percent of those people can use smart wheel- chairs, translating to a potential annual market of several billion dollars based on the UPnRIDE’s target end-user price of $25,000. “The trend in the industry is toward robotic wheelchairs and ‘smart’ wheelchairs, and we plan to be a leader in this indus- try,” says Tamari. for leaving a really big impression. A lot of hard work. And a lot of respect. PNC is inspired by your life and legacy. For more information, call 215-585-5438 or visit one of our local Wealth Management offices today. pnc.com The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) uses the name PNC Wealth Management®, to provide investment and wealth management, fiduciary services, FDIC-insured banking products and services and lending of funds through its subsidiary, PNC Bank, National Association, which is a Member FDIC. Investments: Not FDIC Insured. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value. ©2015 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Important to you Advanced Care Now Available Only at Pine Run n New! Better Tha Pine Run Health Center Ratings Overall Medicare Rating Health Inspection Rating Quality Measures Staffing Rating RN staffing Source: www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare 2/28/2015 Call Beth at 215.340.5256 or Nilsa at 215.340.5162 for more information. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT Connect directly to all that Doylestown Health offers. Pine Run Health Center is your best link to seamless healthcare from a renowned medical community you know and trust. Advanced Care is now provided in a dedicated setting at Pine Run’s Health Center where complex-medical patients have access to the clinical expertise they need when they need it. This unique nursing level is aligned with Doylestown Hospital for the most comprehensive care available. 777 Ferry Road • Doylestown, PA 18901 pinerun.org MAY 14, 2015 19