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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 14, 1986 Page 13
1/ Chaim People doing unto others...
by Robyn Freedman Spizman
When I used to walk into the
lobby at the Jewish Home to see
my grandpa, Morris Freedman, I
imagined that I heard the melo
dies of a symphony in the room. I
visualized children playing and
sounds of laughter filling the
halls. As the elevators on the
third floor would open the sounds
faded into the background, as I
thought that this would have
been just the way grandpa would
have liked it.
This was my dream. Thus, it
was quite a coincidence when I
was asked by Gilbert Deitch two
years ago to come to a public
relations brainstorming meeting
at the Home. I suggested the idea
of developing a play group for
toddlers and yet never imagined
the possibility of it really hap
pening.
When newly appointed com
munity relations director Susan
Milberg heard this idea, as well
as others, she set out to make the
dreams into reality. Simultane
ously, another priority of Susan’s
was to establish an auxiliary—a
network of women to actively
support and create programs to
perpetuate the goals of the Jew
ish Home.
Susan, a self-motivated optim
ist, committed herself to doing
just that. With the cooperation
and mutal support of the admin
istration and board, a vital auxil
iary was formed which has hun
dreds of members. And now exists
another dream come true...
“Play-Day at the Jewish Home.”
It wouldn’t be possible with
out the vivacious and dedicated
auxiliary member, JoAnne Birn-
brey. Over 44 mothers and their
young children meet Wednesday
mornings from 10 to 11:30 to
play at the Home. JoAnne recalled
when her mom, Joel Lowen-
stein, invited her to a steering
committee meeting. JoAnne’s
daughter, Robin, was 18 months
old, so, JoAnne was a natural
choice to initiate this program.
Before that meeting ended, Jo
Anne had written over 25 names
of friends and people she knew
with young children, ages up to
3; she set out to make what is
now known as “Play-Day” hap
pen.
During the planning stages,
JoAnne and 1 spoke a few times,
developed a name and the next
thing I knew she had the entire
program coordinated and in full
swing. To call JoAnne “dynamic”
puts it mildly. This is one indi
vidual who knows no limits. She
said, “The purpose of Play-Day
is to provide opportunities for
socialization among young moth
ers, their children and our Jewish
Home residents. “Recent stud
ies,” she adds, “have demonstrated
the play group organized in nurs
ing home environments provides
positive benefits for both resi
dents and children.”
Not until I had the chance to
go and play at Play-Day did l
really realize how effective and
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squeeze, a hug or a kiss.
Yet the credit really goes to
JoAnne, the auxiliary and the
Jewish Home for their dedica
tion and hard work. Susan Mil
berg said, “JoAnne is truly a role
model for other young leaders to
follow. She has poured her heart
and soul into it.” Play-Day is a
dream come true, thanks to the
efforts of JoAnne.
Since Play-Day is sponsored
by the auxiliary, one prerequisite
for being a part of it is to join the
auxiliary. Another is to bring a
new toy in its original box. From
story telling, to music time, the
activities are planned and well-
organized. Expecting our second
child at the time of my visit, 1 felt
lucky that soon I too could join
in and participate.
It is with much admiration
that this month’s L’Chaim fea
ture is dedicated to Jo Anne, Susan
and the volunteers and individu
als who strive to bring life and
beauty to the residents and smiles
where perhaps there might not
otherwise be.
It is also to dreams and those
individuals who weave them into
reality, that we say L’Chaim.
Because of their efforts, the halls
of the Jewish Home, the beauti
ful new greenhouse and newly
decorated interior are filled with
happiness.
My grandfather, who recently
passed away, is no longer at the
Home, but thanks to these volun
teers my symphony and his plays
on.
JoAnne Birnbrey and Robyn visit with Gertrude Bereznitsky.
incredibly touching this hour-
and-a-day would be.
I saw a gentleman who was
confined to a wheelchair. He
held in his arms 6-month-old
Hallie Rosenberg. She looked up
into his eyes and smiled and
cooed with such affection. In
return this gentleman lit up with
a smile that had no bounds.
These two were destined to be a
team. Hallie’s mom, Laurie, com
mented “They told me he has not
smiled in months, until now that
and wonderful for their daugh
ter, 19-month-old Adrienne. In
fact, it seemed all the mothers
agreed it was both a special and
rare opportunity.
Likewise, the volunteer corps
and the staff are delighted with
the program and not one person
can walk by without joining in,
even if it’s just for a pinch, a
is. That’s why I come to Play-
Day.”
Even when L’Chaim’s dedicated
volunteer photographer Harold
Alan came to photograph “Play-
Day,’ he was so touched he plans
to come back and bring his 15-
month-old son, Michael.
Margo Edlin told me that
Play-Day has been so satisfying
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