As a Jewish organization, Handmaker’s mission has always included serving older adults, guided by the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (just and charitable deads) and chesed (loving kindess). In that spirit, Handmaker recently began a partnership with Chabad of Tucson and Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona to provide affordable Kosher Meals to those in need in our Community.

This collaboration will help tackle the issue of food insecurity in our community by offering a Glatt Kosher Meal option to those meals already being provided by Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona. Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona has been delivering healthy, nutritious meals through a connection of caring individuals to the community since 1970.

Prior to the pandemic, Chabad Tucson had been providing and delivering roughly 5-10 kosher meals weekly to people in need in the community. The meals that Chabad provided were cooked in a commissary that Chabad rented. When they lost access to the commissary, and Rabbi Shemtov began overseeing Handmaker’s Kosher kitchen, Rabbi saw a great opportunity to continue and possibly grow his meal delivery program. And with the recently added partnership with Mobile Meals, we hope to really expand the reach.

This is all happening just in time for Passover!

While all Handmaker residents in our Besserman Independent Living Apartments, Rubin and Tynan Assisted Living Apartments, as well as in our Skilled Nursing Kalmanovitz Memory Care, Rich Long Term Care and Bregman and Golding Post Hospital Rehabilitation Units will be served Kosher for Passover meals during Passover at no additional charge, Handmaker and Chabad want to be sure that others in the community have access to Kosher for Passover food as well.

Those who are concerned about having the foods that they need for their observance of Passover at the end of this month can sign up for Kosher for Passover meal deliveries during the week of Passover through Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona. The deadline to sign up to receive Kosher for Passover meals from Mobile Meals is March 24^th.

All meals are delivered by volunteers of Mobile Meals, and they are always looking for more helping hands.

For more information about meal delivery or volunteering to help deliver meals, please contact Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona at 520-622-1600 or visit their website at mobilemealssoaz.org.

With all of our helping hands, we can do our part to tackle the issue of food insecurity, and make sure that everyone has the opportunity to observe Passover in our community.

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging has a long history in Tucson, caring for the elderly in our community since its founding in 1963. So, when the community heard that the Handmaker board was considering selling Handmaker, the rumors began to spread. Most often heard were that Handmaker was changing its name, and that Handmaker would no longer be a Kosher facility. Thankfully, these were just rumors.

The board reconstitution agreement that was finalized on January 26th of this year between Handmaker, MED Healthcare Partners and the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona does not change much on the surface at Handmaker. The name will not change, nor will Handmaker’s longstanding commitment to quality care of the elderly in our community. And, Handmaker will continue to provide Kosher food; the current Kashrut oversight is under the auspices of the new Jewish ownership of Handmaker in consultation with Rabbi Yossi Shemtov of Chabad Tucson; and it will remain a Jewish institution. The Handmaker Board made sure of that.

 “My great uncle brought the community together to start Handmaker almost 60 years ago”, states Phil Bregman, Chairman of the Board of Handmaker. “I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish since 1963. The board and I, as well as the community, undertook the search for a buyer of Handmaker with careful consideration. We wanted to make sure that whoever we sold Handmaker to, understood the significance of Handmaker to our community. We are happy to have found MED Healthcare Partners, and I believe that we are leaving Handmaker in good hands who will continue to honor our Jewish values.”

The idea for a facility like Handmaker began in the ‘50s when Bregman’s great Uncle I. H. “Murf” Handmaker and his wife Mae could not find a facility for Mae’s mother, Pearl Bloom, who suffered from dementia.  She was an observant Jewish woman who kept kosher, and they needed to place her at a facility in Arizona where she could observe religious rituals and kashrut and receive dementia care, but no such place existed.  They had to send her back to New York to find a place that met her needs. After this experience, Mae and Murf began talking with other community leaders about building a Jewish nursing home, because they believed that Tucson should have one.

With the help of the Tucson Jewish Community Council — forerunner of today’s Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona — and the generosity of the Tucson community, including a donation from the Charles Wilson family of seven acres of prime real estate on Rosemont Boulevard, her vision was made into a reality in 1963 when Handmaker opened its doors.

And over the years, what began as a 40-bed Skilled Nursing Facility, has grown into something much larger. Handmaker currently has 94 beds combined in its Skilled Nursing Units, which includes the Golding and Bregman Post Hospital Rehabilitation neighborhoods, the Rich Long Term care neighborhood, and the Kalmanovitz Memory Care neighborhood. In addition, there are currently 93 combined beds in the Rubin and Tynan Assisted Living neighborhoods, and 12 independent Besserman Independent Living apartments.

Handmaker had been very successful for 50 years doing what it has been doing, but as the industry has become more highly regulated, it has been more and more difficult for Handmaker, as a “stand alone” institution, to compete with other larger more experienced operators that have been coming into our community. It has been much easier for those larger entities to be successful, particularly because of their economies of scale.

The decision to sell Handmaker will better ensure that Handmaker remains sustainable and available for our community. The new owners are observant Jews who have a tremendous amount of experience running nursing homes, and plan to ensure the integrity of the Handmaker name.

“The thirteen months prior to the transaction that I have been able to serve as Handmaker’s CEO have been a true blessing.”, states Elie Pollak, “I have had a chance to understand what the name Handmaker means to the Jewish community of Tucson and the greater healthcare community at large. Mordy and I are excited to continue to maintain the very bedrock and foundation of Handmaker which is a commitment to quality healthcare together with true Jewish values. This new chapter will be one of continuing to further the resolve of the Jewish mission of Handmaker since 1963.”

Elie has indeed already been extremely supportive of continuing with all of the Jewish programming that we have been doing at Handmaker, and actively encourages all opportunities for even more ways to connect with our community. In fact, it was under his guidance that Handmaker has partnered with Chabad and Mobile Meals for a kosher meal delivery service designed specifically to help homebound elderly seniors.

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging has been a Beneficiary Agency of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, and will continue on with its strong partnership, as well as maintain its non-profit status.

Deborah Oseran, Chair, and Graham Hoffman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona shared, “We have been inspired by the leadership and management of the new Handmaker team and their commitment to continue the Jewish character, programming, and services that have been a hallmark of the Handmaker experience.  We look forward to founding a new partnership with Handmaker to continue providing respect, dignity, and Jewish life for our seniors.”

We do too.

“I am not doing this just for me, but for the benefit of the whole world”, one of our Handmaker residents commented just before he received his second dose of the Moderna vaccine last Thursday, February 4^th. He was one of over 96% of our residents and 87% of our staff members who have received at least one dose of the vaccine, administered at one of the vaccine clinics held at Handmaker by Walgreens. Each resident and staff member was also doing their part to protect themselves, protect those around them and to benefit the world.

After nearly one year of a pandemic, this was finally a light at the end of a very long tunnel. There have been other moments of brightness along the way, as we tried to keep residents connected, as well as safe. As our activity department got creative with one on one programming, and we all got much more familiar with FaceTime, Duo and Zoom so that residents could still see their family members and participate in religious services and other programming. And our wonderful few months of outdoor visits with our hugging booth when the COVID rates in Arizona dipped down low enough to have them. But those were just little breaks, this is different. Are we getting to the end of this thing?

Abel just wants to see his grandson in person. Patsy has been feeling “awfully lonely”, and cannot wait to congregate with friends in the common areas of Handmaker again. Evie misses walking along the hallways throughout the building like she used to before COVID. Barb is feeling optimistic, and can’t wait to have a little more freedom again, and to get a haircut! Despite a bit of isolation, Mort says that he has felt safe and secure at Handmaker throughout, but he will feel even more so with the vaccine. Doris is so grateful to be have gotten vaccinated, and hopes that it works for everyone. And Elaine thanked Handmaker for arranging for the vaccination clinics at Handmaker. She says that she watches the news and sees how difficult it has been for some people to get vaccinated. Elderly people waiting in cars for hours, or having difficulty registering for vaccinations on the internet. She is so glad that she could just walk to the Great Room at Handmaker to get hers.

Everyone is anxious to get back to normal again. But how quickly can we? And what will normal look like? Well it’s all about what is going on outside the walls of Handmaker, as much as inside. We need the positivity rate in Pima County to continue to go down, and we need to keep COVID out of the building. And while we cannot really control the first part of that, we are doing all we can to control the second part.

So, when will we get to normal? We will just have to wait and see. Normal may not look like the old normal for a while, but we just got one step closer. Our residents are hopeful. We should all be hopeful. Now if everyone would please do their parts and mask up, physically distance, and get vaccinated as soon as they can, doing their part to the benefit the world, then we will get there a whole lot sooner! 

My name is Debi Lewis and I am a fifth year Rabbinical Student at the Academy of Jewish Religion in Los Angeles California and I had the privilege of spending this past High Holiday season at Handmaker in Tucson Arizona. I was hired to assist in leading the services with long time leaders of this community - Mel Cohen, Dan Asia and Michael Rosenzweig.

I wanted to share a little bit of this experience with you; the people for whom Handmaker is a meaningful and important Jewish Community. I was warmly welcomed by the staff at Handmaker as well as the residents and was housed in one of the Independent Living apartments on the premises. This gave me the opportunity to spend time with the residents and get to know a bit about their lives, their history, and their present joys and concerns. We got to experience some of these together. We celebrated some of the highs of the season, from singing and making music with our instruments (handed out to the residents during Psalm 150), waving flags together on Simchat Torah, and enjoying raisin challah, (Well not Lois who is famously not a fan of raisins in her food.) I also got to share in some of their concerns. Questions about mortality and faith, concerns about failing health, and the future.

It was a growing and wonderful experience for me to be able to be at Handmaker. There were things that I was able to bring forth using my Rabbinic training and things that I got to learn. Both wonderful things.  For me the learning is always the best. I learned from other leaders of the services, not only the practical lessons of how to chant various tunes that I was unfamiliar with, specific to service at Handmaker, but how to be gracious to someone that is new and learning and growing into this title of “Rabbi”. To a person they were kind, patient and caring teachers and examples of what it means to be the Shaliach Tzibbur (messenger of the community), and to take that role very seriously.  The Machzorim (High Holiday Prayer books), that were used were crafted by the above leaders of this community and no detail is left out. It is a conservative Maczor for a conservative community and you can tell when praying the services this is a special community for which Judaism is meaningful and a thriving part of their lives. There are a fair number of visitors from outside of Handmaker that have made Eshel Avraham their prayer place of choice, folks for whom the other offerings in the area do not fill their religious needs in the same way.

There are many “characters” that I had the joy of meeting and I am sure that I will reflect on this time with joy for many years to come. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity and will keep Handmaker and its residents in my heart. It is a reminder of how the power of Judaism and a shared love of the tradition can carry a community of people.  

Kol Tuv (All good things),



Note: Debi Lewis was the visiting Rabbinic Intern this year at Handmaker, thanks to a Grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona.

We are in the Hebrew month of Elul, the last month of the Hebrew Year. During the month of Elul we begin to prepare for the coming Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Preparation for the Holidays takes many forms. Of particular importance and meaning is the spiritual preparation. Traditionally, the month of Elul is a time of reflection and introspection. Each day of this month leading up to Rosh Hashanah we are meant to take some time for meditation, contemplating the year that is coming to an end, and the teshuvah; the returning, renewing and repenting; that we need to do before the upcoming new year.

Some of our Handmaker residents have noticed a daily meditation that is being displayed in the Rubin Assisted Living Neighborhood this month. At the suggestion of our resident Rabbi, Rabbi Richard Safran, having an easily accessible and viewable daily mediation is one way that we are helping our residents to spiritually prepare for the High Holidays.

Additionally, at our regular Torah Study during the month of Elul we will be taking some time before our studies to think about the past year and assist the participating residents in the process of Teshuvah.

We are grateful that Rabbi Helen Cohn of Congregation M’Kor Hayim will be coming to Handmaker on Sunday, September 22^nd at 10am for a lecture focused on the upcoming High Holidays. We will spend some time reminiscing about our favorite holiday memories, consider our mistakes of the past year and set some intentions for the coming year. RSVP to nlevy@handamker.org if you are interested in attending.

It is customary to hear the sound of the shofar blown, daily if possible, during the month of Elul, in part, to awaken our soul during this period of introspection. We are looking forward to hearing Rabbi Billy and students from Tucson Hebrew Academy blow their shofarim for us toward the end of the month. It is always a pleasure to have Rabbi Billy and the THA students bringing their Ruach (spirit) to Handmaker, especially this time of year.

And this year, as in past years, Mel Cohen and Dan Asia will be leading the Selichot Prayers at Handmaker, on Saturday, September 21^st at 6:30pm. The Selichot prayers are special prayers and poems that are traditionally recited on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah begins.

These are some of the ways that we will be preparing spiritually at Handmaker for the High Holidays. In addition to the spiritual, there are of course some other more logistical preparations going on as well.

Our kitchen is preparing for the many special holiday meals, from Rosh Hashanah to Simchat Torah. All meals are free for our residents, but open to guests as well at a small cost. We are currently taking reservations for these meals. If you are interested in joining us, please call Teresa Forkum at 520-322-3622. For more information about times, dates and prices, check out our website at handmaker.org/living-at-handmaker/spiritual-life.

Residents will have the opportunity to make Honey Cakes this month, which is a traditional dessert to make at this time of year, and to share with friends.

Mel Cohen and Dan Asia will again be leading our High Holiday services along with Michael Rosensweig. We are excited to also have the help of Rabbinical student, Debi Lewis, from Santa Barbara, California, thanks to a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation. Debi is preparing for the High Holiday services through meetings with Mel, Dan and Mike, as well as by practicing the prayers with our High Holiday melodies. We are looking forward to meeting her, and having her on our campus throughout the High Holidays.

All of our services are free and open to all. Check out our website for times and dates at handmaker.org/living-at-handmaker/spiritual-life.

We will also be putting together a Book of Remembrance again this year. If you would like to make a donation and add any names to this book, please contact Teresa Forkum at 520-322-3622.

We wish you and your families a meaningful month of Elul as you prepare for the upcoming High Holidays. And a sweet and happy New Year!

“Handmaker reminds me of when I used to go up to the Poconos with my family and stayed at a Jewish resort when I was younger! There was always something to do, something going on, and plenty of good food.” That was the response that I got from Chic last week when I asked how his stay at Handmaker was going.

Chic does normally live at Handmaker, but he likes attending our Shabbat services and Torah Study. After Shabbat Services one morning a few weeks ago, he told me that his air conditioner was not working, and that it would not be fixed for a few days. I suggested that he check with our Admissions Department to see if we had an apartment available at Handmaker that he could stay in for a few days while he waited his A/C to be fixed. He did, and we did, and he loved every minute of his stay here.

Beginning in the 1920’s, resorts in Catskill mountains of upstate NY and the Poconos of Pennsylvania that were catering to Jewish clientele who were not welcome at other resorts became very popular, with their peak in the 1950’s and 60’s. Two of the best known were the Concord and Grossinger's, and the many families who flocked there in the summer time created wonderful memories to last a lifetime. It’s interesting to me that Chic made a comparison of Handmaker to his experience at a Jewish resort, because I sometimes think that Handmaker is like year round Jewish Summer Camp for seniors. And when I hear about what life was like at the Jewish resorts in the Catskills and the Poconos, they sound very much like Summer Camp for families, only with much better food! Now granted, we do not have basketball leagues, lakefront activities, dance contests or Maccabiah Games, but there are some similarities.

When residents get up each morning, they get dressed and head over to the Dining Room for breakfast. There is always a breakfast special, but they can get almost anything they want for breakfast, and as much as they want, as long as its kosher. There are no loudspeaker announcements in the Dining Room about the day's activities, but at the breakfast table and posted all around there are the “daily sheets” with a list of activities for the day. There are generally two morning activities. At 9 or 10am there is shopping, current events, book club, art class, Yiddish class or some or other activity, followed by a choice of a variety of exercise classes at 11am, depending on the day. After exercise class, it’s off to the Dining Room again for lunch where they can choose between a lunch special, or another dairy choice off of the menu. And there is always ice cream available.

Afternoon activities range from Torah Study, Bingo, Around the World Cultural classes, live music, baking, Tai Chi, a musical performance, or of course there is also the option of taking an afternoon nap. Dinner comes along with a choice of dinner special or choice from the meat menu. And after dinner, almost every night there is an evening activity of live music, movie, game or trivia night, just to name a few. That wide array of activities does make Handmaker sound a bit like a Poconos resort!

On Shabbat everything is a little different. I am not sure if that was always the case at Grossinger's or the Concord, but it is at Handmaker. Every Friday evening beginning at 4:30pm there is a Shabbat Service followed by a special Shabbat meal, complete with Challah and Manischewitz. And on every Saturday morning, there is Shabbat morning service, with Torah and Haftorah reading, followed by a beautiful Kiddush spread complete with pickled herring, egg and a variety of other salads, Challah, fruit and a delicious selection of desserts.

So yes, the comparison that Chic made between his stay Handmaker and his stay at a Poconos Resort is understandable. There are some similarities, and certainly many differences as well, but if we can make our residents feel like they are staying at a resort like Grossinger's, where they may have stayed in the past and have fond memories of as a child, then we have accomplished a lot here at Handmaker.

“Hello Gorgeous” That’s the sign on the door that welcomes you into the Beauty Salon at Handmaker. When the door opens, and the sounds of Jazz music and the smells of hair spray waft down the hall, you know that Bethany is in, and the Handmaker Beauty Salon is open for business.

While nowadays most women wash their hair daily, back in the day, most women would get their hair “done” once a week. And Handmaker is a place where many women still do. The Beauty Salon is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays for appointments or walk ins. Residents can get a shampoo, trim, color, perm, set or almost whatever they want, including manis and pedis. Male residents come in for shampoos, trims, a shave or even a pedicure. Our patients at Handmaker for post hospital rehab are always thrilled when they hear that we have a full service Beauty Salon.

A glimpse into the Beauty Salon is like stepping back in time. With Frank Sinatra playing in the background, several women in curlers under the hair dryer reading magazines, and another client having her hair teased. Residents in the salon look relaxed and content. Salon day is something that many look forward to, and plan their days and week around. It is their day to feel pampered, and made to feel gorgeous, just like the sign says. Nothing beats the smiles on the faces of residents as they emerge from the Beauty Salon, with their “do’s” neatly in place. And when they are complimented on their recently coiffed hair, their smiles only grow wider.

One of our residents, Ruth, is one of Bethany’s regulars and she always looks forward to her visits to the Beauty Salon. She says that Bethany “works miracles”, gesturing to her hair she says with a smile, “If she can get this hair looking this great, she is working a miracle.”

Bethany has been taking care of residents in the Handmaker Beauty Salon for eight years. And she loves what she does. She loves the residents. She knows her regulars really well. What services they like, how they want their hair done, and even what type of music they like to listen to. She often changes the music playing based on who is in the Salon. And if she does not know the client very well, she asks what they want to listen to. She wants to make them feel comfortable, pampered and beautiful. She told me the story of a woman who came to her in her wheelchair to have her hair done. She looked at herself in the mirror and said to Bethany, “I am such an ugly lady.” Bethany replied emphatically, “No you’re not, you are beautiful!” She then proceeded to make the client feel beautiful. When she was done, the woman seemed transformed inside and out. So much so, that she stood up from her wheelchair and started to walk, actually Bethany described it as more of a confident strut, out of the Salon. Bethany told her to wait, that she forgot her wheelchair! The client said that she was fine without it. Of course, Bethany brought her the wheelchair and helped her to sit down in it. But the fact that her whole attitude changed from her one hour with Bethany in the Salon is remarkable, and telling.

Making our residents feel gorgeous on the outside can make them feel better on the inside. When they feel pampered and beautiful, they may forget their aches and pains for a few minutes, bringing them a sense of calm and contentment. That is Bethany’s goal, and we are so grateful that she continues to work her magic twice a week at the Beauty Salon at Handmaker.

When dessert was served at our Shavuot Festival meal this year, there were a few murmurs of “where's the cheesecake?” Our amazingly creative Executive Chef at Handmaker tried to do something somewhat untraditional. She served Fig Jam Palmiers (also known as Elephant Ears), with cheesecake filling instead of cheesecake. (see photo above) After a few initial murmurs of discontent, the residents and guests tried this delicious looking dessert. The vast majority gave nods and sounds of approval. Some others… well, cheesecake is pretty hard to compete with. And, after all, it is very traditional to eat cheesecake on Shavuot. They were kind of expecting it.

But if you look at many of the modern Jewish recipe websites, you will see recipes for Jewish holidays that seem traditional, but border on the untraditional with their presentation or additional ingredients. For example, there were many recipes for unique fillings for Hamantaschen floating around this past Purim. Fillings like lemon, peanut butter and jelly, or goat cheese. I personally prefer poppyseed, also known as mohn.

It seems that many of the younger generation of Jewish cooks out there want to experiment a bit. Not quite snubbing their nose at the traditional foods, but giving them a little bit of a twist. Our creative chefs at Handmaker are no different. They are trying to provide traditional foods for our residents, but they also enjoy the opportunity to add a little spice to their cooking, and introduce our residents to some new flavors. And how is this received? Well, it depends on who you ask.

At our Shavuot meal, for example, the blintzes in the appetizer were savory rather than sweet. This satisfied many, but a few missed having a sweeter version. The entrée was a choice of either Baked Halibut with a caramelized onion and date bruschetta topped with goat cheese and arugula, circled with a saffron crema, or Pasta Shells Stuffed with Cheese and a fresh tomato sauce topped with a rolled parmesan crisp and fresh basil. Both sound like descriptions at any fine restaurant, but neither choice was all that traditional for Shavuot. There was cheese in each, a prerequisite for foods on this holiday, and the stuffed or rolled parts are reminiscent of the Torah, which we received on Shavuot. Both were definitely thoughtful and in the holiday spirit, but not quite the stuffed cabbage that many are used to. Needless to say, everyone who had the stuffed shells gave it rave reviews, with no complaints.

So, the question is, should we be strictly traditional or push the envelope a bit here? Which way to go? Serving only traditional foods would make the majority of our residents happy most of the time, but would they miss out on a tasty adventure? There have been many studies and articles written that show that changes in routine encourages your brain to make new connections, which can be good for brain health. Does tasting a new or unexpected food or flavor qualify as changing up a routine? I would say, maybe.

Our chefs really try to balance out serving mostly traditional foods, which most of our residents like, with the option of  serving up something a little different now and then. We can all agree that some things should not be messed with...no funky spices in our matzah ball soup, please…but sometimes trying something new can introduce you to a new favorite dish or flavor.

Our new sandwich special of the month, which was started last month, has introduced many of our residents to Fish Tacos and Chicago Style Vegan Hot Dogs. Not everyone tried these monthly specials, but most of those who did, really liked them. In addition to our traditional potato latkes on our dining menus, we now also have confetti latkes as an option, made with a variety of vegetables. They are not exactly traditional, but have been a big hit.

A choir director friend of mine recently mentioned to me that at her concerts she likes to choose mostly music that she knows her audience will love, with one or two pieces that are a little different that she loves and wants to introduce them to. That sounds like a perfect formula, or recipe, for success.

Hoping that you and your families had an enjoyable, and tasty Shavuot.

How do you summarize 70 plus years into a few pages of a book? It is not necessarily an easy feat, but it can make for an interesting experience. This is what eleven High School students accomplished after meeting with their Handmaker resident partners for the last six months, as part of the Tracing Roots Inter-generational program, a partnership between Tucson Hebrew High and Handmaker, and sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona.

Participating teens and residents met each other initially as a group at Handmaker during a round of speed dating, and then partnered up at a Shabbat meal at Handmaker last November. Teen and resident partners met individually with each other between December and March, getting to know one another, and putting the residents’ stories down on paper. The end result was a book filled with their life stories, and eleven new friendships.

Putting together this book was in part just a vehicle to build connections between two individuals from two different generations, a way to get to know one another. But for some it became a lot more. For some it was a pleasant trip down memory lane, sharing stories of their childhood, how they met their spouses, or first job experiences. For others it was an opportunity to impart some life lessons learned from a long and full life to someone who was just getting started on theirs. And for a few it was not easy to recount their life journey, which may have included some challenging relationships, and some difficult times. It was a challenge for them to summarize a life full of accomplishments and some of life’s sorrows into a few pages of a book. The process was a journey unto itself for some. And whatever path each Tracing Roots partnership took, each one created a connection between two individuals that was not there before, and an experience that all participants will not easily forget.

As Erika Spivack, a teen participant in the Tracing Roots program for all three years, put it, she has “truly seen the effects the program has had in people’s lives. Personally, I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn from my elders and see that while our age may vary, we really are not that different. This program has not only taught me about interacting with the elderly, but I learned a lot about myself in the process.” Resident participant, Dottie Rivers, remarked on what great kids all of the teen participants were. She had read or heard things about young people that have caused her concern in the recent past, but this opportunity to get to know these amazing teens has given her hope for the future.

All were grateful to have had the chance to participate in this program. Thank you to Rabbi Ruven Barkan, Principal of Tucson Hebrew High, for his partnership. With his help, we hope to bring the program to Handmaker again this coming Fall. We also want to thank Peter Marcus, from Allegra Printing, for donating the printing of the book, and to Noah Cohen, from the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, for his time in laying out the book, and to Angela Salmon for creating and editing the beautiful video that was shown at the community reception. Anyone interested in participating in this program next year or purchasing a copy of the book can contact Nanci Levy at nlevy@handmaker.org.

In late January we had a group of 5^th grade students from Congregation Or Chadash visit Handmaker to learn about Handmaker and our residents as part of their religious school program. I had come by their religious school class the month before to tell them about Handmaker and what to expect on their upcoming visit.

When they arrived at Handmaker, we took a tour of the building. They saw the rehab areas, skilled nursing, the Great Room and more. They were curious and asked many questions. When we walked into the Rubin Café in the Assisted Living building where we were meeting a group of the residents, a few were a little shy, but they were mostly friendly, and quickly sat down with residents. The group painted pots and planted seeds in celebration of Tu B’shevat, getting to know one another as they painted. The students sitting next to residents helped them with their paint pens, and then with planting the seeds. A few left their completed pots for the residents to enjoy, and everyone left with a smile on their face.

And it was not over after that. Early last month I had a double treat. First, I received 10 beautifully written and heartfelt thank you notes from the students in the class. And then, later in the month, I was invited to Congregation Or Chadash for a special Shabbat service, which included a slide show and presentation from the 5^th grade class to the congregation about Handmaker. Wow! It was so well done, and really demonstrated how much the students took away from their experience at Handmaker. We loved having this group visit, and I was very touched by their cards and the presentation. We look forward to having them back again!

Here are some excerpts from their notes of gratitude…

“I enjoyed going to Handmaker and meeting some of the residents. It was so much fun talking with them. They were all so talented and creative during the pot decorating. When I first heard that we were going to Handmaker, I thought that it would look like a hospital but, once I got there I loved it. It was very cute. Thank you.”

“Thank you for having us at Handmaker and making pots with us! I loved Betty’s pot with the silver gleaming against the black curves. Sarah’s stars were absolutely gorgeous! My mint plant is growing high and looks great in the pot all of you helped me make! How are your plants doing? Congratulations to Gertrude, who looks happy and healthy as ever! I loved the beautiful paintings on the walls. Thank you, thank and thank you again for the memories that I’ll carry for the rest of my life until I live at Handmaker!”

“Thank you. I really liked making pots with you. I have good memories of visiting my Zaide (Grandpa) there when he was in Rehab. Handmaker is definitely not a place where you feel uncomfortable and it doesn’t smell like old peopleJ.”

“Thank you for letting us come and visit the residents. I really enjoyed painting pots with Gertrude and the residents. I learned a lot when we had the tour. I would love to come again and visit more with the residents. I hope that you will get to meet my dog Lincoln, because he is a therapy dog.”

As told to me by Gertrude Shankman, Handmaker resident for nearly 12 years, currently aged 104. I have taken some editorial liberties, though…

Every Saturday morning we have Shabbat morning services at Handmaker for all who wish to attend. These services are lay-led by Mel Cohen and Dan Asia, along with Les Waldman, a Handmaker resident.

Dan has been mentoring an 11-year-old boy named Jonah, who has been coming to Shabbat morning services at Handmaker since he was a toddler. For the last year or so, Dan has been encouraging Jonah to help him lead certain prayers and songs during the morning service. It has been wonderful watching Jonah’s confidence grow, along with the loudness of his voice.

It is customary for men to wear yarmulkes (skull caps) during the services. The three men all have yarmulkes with the initials of their names sewn on them, handmade by Gertrude Shankman, the most senior attendee of the Shabbat morning services. This summer at one of our Shabbat morning services, Jonah was presented with his very own yarmulke with his initials sewn on it, by Dan, his mentor, handmade by Gertrude. It is hard to know whose smile was wider at this presentation, Dan’s, Jonah’s or Gertrude’s!

And so now, we have four men leading our Shabbat morning services at Handmaker, each with a special, matching yarmulke!

And by the way, we do have other young people at Handmaker helping to lead services on Saturday mornings, but we would love to have more. If you are interested in helping out, or have a child who wants to help, contact me, Nanci Levy, at 322-3632 or nlevy@handmaker.org.

Developing and maintaining friendships is critical throughout our lives. Many of us remember our first best friends, someone who we played with on the playground in grade school, sat next to at lunch, explored the deserts or woods with, and maybe got into a little trouble with. Friendships in middle and high school got a bit more complicated for some, as everyone’s hormones began to rage at that age. Those who attended college had the opportunity to begin lifelong friendships there, sometimes dear friendships were made in the workplace, and people who married and had children may have made some dear friends through their children as their children began developing their own friendships.

Something special also happens when residents move into a senior living community. This is another point in time, a change in life, when there is a great opportunity to develop new friendships. When new residents move into Handmaker they are entering a new environment, and everyone has their own way of adjusting. Almost always the new resident feels more settled once friendships develop. If you walk into the Handmaker Rubin Dining room, you will notice most people sitting with others. Often times you will see that the same people sit with each other, sometimes even at the same table, for most every meal. When a new person moves in, you can see them scanning the dining room looking for a familiar face to sit with. Because we have so many activities to participate in, residents have so many opportunities to get to know one another and develop friendships. Our residents are very welcoming, and it is really heartwarming to watch these friendships blossom.

At the end of this week, one of our dear residents, and dear friend to so many, will be moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to be closer to her family. She has lived at Handmaker for over four years, and is so mixed about moving. “I know that I want to be closer to my family, but how am I ever going to replace this?”, she says as she gestures around her at all of her friends. She has made some deep friendships here at Handmaker, and says that she is worried about whether she can make such good friends in Nashville. “It will just not be the same.”

Gloria comes regularly to the Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat Services, and is our “Kohen” every Saturday morning. We had a gathering to say goodbye to her last week, since it was likely her last Shabbat service, and the outpouring of love from the Handmaker community was tremendous. While we all understand that she wants to be closer to her family, and most here would probably make the same choice, it doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. She will be missed.

That is what happens when you make friends, sometimes you have to say goodbye. Fortunately in this age of technology, there are many ways to keep in touch, and we are counting on Gloria to learn how to use “FaceTime” on her iPad so that we can see her smiling face every once in a while, at least on a screen. And as we tell her, if she does not like it in Nashville, we will be right here ready to welcome her back!

The winter holiday season is always an interesting time for the Jewish people in the Diaspora. Christmas seems to be everywhere, and since we do not celebrate it, we sometimes feel a little left out. The solution seems to be, here in America, to make Hanukkah a big deal. And we certainly try to make it a big deal for residents at Handmaker, and include everyone in the celebrations.

We light the candles and say the blessings in each and every Handmaker neighborhood every night to make sure that everyone gets touched by the light of Hanukkah, no matter their faith. Every night there were residents around the menorah in every neighborhood ready to celebrate.

In addition to lighting the candles and saying the blessings, we try to plan a different activity each night of Hanukkah. This year we were so grateful to have the Sparks Club from the Jewish Community Center, Rabbi Louchheim and members of Congregation Or Chadash, the Jurkowitz Family, and the Tucson Hebrew Academy 6^th Grade Class with Rabbi Billy at Handmaker. Each group came one night to sing the blessings and Hanukkah songs, play dreidel and otherwise help our residents celebrate.

And there were many memorable moments this Hanukkah.

It is always a pleasure to make potato latkes during Hanukkah for our residents. They appreciate seeing and smelling the latkes sizzling in the pan. I have made them for the last few years in the Rubin dining room. And after I am done there, I especially like walking around the building giving out all of the extra latkes to Handmaker staff. There were several people this year who have never heard of or tasted a latke, and I was happy to introduce them!

Lighting the menorah in the Kalmanowitz Memory Care neighborhood was special this year. One of our residents, who had not been very verbal the last few times when I had visited, did not want to sing the blessings with me the first night. But on the second night she started asking me questions about Hanukkah, and agreed to come over to the menorah while I sang the blessings with another resident. The next night, she needed little urging, and she ended up singing the blessings with me and another resident every night for the remaining nights of Hanukkah.

And in the Tynan Neighborhood, on the first night of Hanukkah I told the story of Hanukkah, and explained why we celebrate by lighting the menorah and playing dreidel. Many of the residents who were there were not Jewish, but curious and wanting to celebrate with us. It was fun to see that by the 8^th night of Hanukkah, most were singing the blessings and songs along with everyone else, and many understood that Gimel meant that they get it all!

Most nights when I went to the Rich Skilled Nursing Neighborhood, there was a group of long term care residents waiting patiently for me around the menorah, with smiles on their faces. On the last night, one of our oldest residents just did not feel up to getting out of her chair in her room to come to the menorah. So, we brought the menorah, and the party, to her. She was so grateful. And, it was so special to have a group of residents crowded around the menorah in her room singing the blessings and songs.

I am so fortunate to have the health and energy to move from one Handmaker neighborhood to the next to bring the light of Hanukkah to all of our Handmaker residents, regardless of their faith. And we all especially love the nights when we are lucky enough to have groups come to help light the candles and play dreidel. These groups bring fresh energy, connect with our residents, and seem to get as much joy from their visit as they bring.

When I got to the last Handmaker neighborhood on the eighth night, and sang the last Hanukkah song of the year, I have to admit that it was with a mixture of sadness and relief...until next year, when we begin again.

We hope that whatever holiday you celebrate is filled with love and light, and that you and your families have a healthy and happy new year!

And please, let me know if you want to come celebrate Hanukkah at Handmaker next year with our residents. We would love to have you here! Just email me at nlevy@handmaker.org.

“Dancing, at my age?” That was the reaction of one 92-year-old Handmaker resident when I told her about a dance class that we were planning at Handmaker. She was not the only skeptical one. But twelve 80-96-year-old residents showed up last month to the dance class, and by the looks on their faces, they all had a blast!

It was a chair dance class, but many could not help but get up and move, with the help of Dance Instructor Billbob. This was the first of a series of Art Classes that will take place in the various neighborhoods at Handmaker, as well as at SandRuby Adult Day program. Through a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and a partnership with Arts for All, Handmaker residents and SandRuby members will be treated to Dance, Art and Music classes led by amazing instructors, like Dance Instructor Billbob, which began in October and will continue through next April.

Wheelchairs and walkers did not stop any of our residents from swinging, swaying, twisting and having a fabulous time on Tynan, Rubin and at SandRuby at the first dance class. Billbob played music to their taste, and residents enjoyed singing along to the music, and learning a few new moves. One of our Tynan residents exclaimed, “I have not danced like that in 50 years” after the first class.

At the visual arts class a few weeks later, Harriett, the art teacher, brought dozens of photos, drawings and painting of trees to inspire residents, and then they were given paper and a pencil, and got to work. Many added color with paints, or water color crayons. Every one of the SandRuby participants, Handmaker Rubin and Rich Neighborhood residents enjoyed the process, and some were even happy with the end product.

Handmaker residents and SandRuby participants cannot wait for Billbob to come back and dance with them, to create more art with Harriett, and to listen to and perform music with Frank, the music teacher.

We are so grateful to Arizona Commission on the Arts for funding this Lifelong Arts Engagement Grant for Handmaker, and to Handmaker for providing the required matching funding. Having more arts programming at Handmaker keeps our residents' minds active and engaged, adding greatly to the quality and enjoyment of this time of their lives. As one resident put it, “Art is what feeds me. I do not need food, just give me some artwork to do!” She left the class satiated, and looking forward to the next one!

We are just about to complete the Jewish month of Tishrei, a month that begins with Rosh Hashanah; the Jewish New Year; followed by Yom Kippur; the day of atonement; and then Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in rapid succession. We celebrated, reflected, and then celebrated some more. It is a joyous time, but a busy time. Needless to say, things can get a little hectic this time of year in the Jewish Community. It is not really until the celebration of Simchat Torah is over that we have the time to sit back and think back on the whirlwind of holidays that have just come to an end. Just as the Jewish High Holidays are a time of reflection on the year that has passed, the time just after these holidays can be a time for reflection as well. A time to think back on, and if you are planner, a time to make notes about what can be done differently next year.

There are so many elements and details that go into the observance and celebration of these holidays, as any host of a holiday celebration can attest to. Handmaker takes the worry of these details off the shoulders of our residents so that they can just focus on their observance. They do not have to think about where their High Holiday service tickets are, what they are making for Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner, when to pick up the bagels and lox for the break fast, or how to build their Sukkah. Instead, the work and these details are taken care of by Handmaker staff and volunteers. So in reflecting back on these holidays, now is also a good time to recognize with gratitude all of those who played a role in making the High Holidays so special at Handmaker.

In addition to their normal day to day responsibilities at Handmaker, we have amazing and dedicated staff who planned, prepared and served the special holiday meals for residents; set up the Great Room so that it would be ready for holiday celebrations and services; built, decorated and then took down the Handmaker Sukkah; brought residents to and from the Holiday meals and services; as well as a great many other details that we were not even aware of.

We are blessed with two wonderful service leaders, Mel Cohen and Dan Asia, who not only lead services every Saturday morning, but every holiday service as well. They have help during the Holidays from Michael Rosensweig, and this year; with a Grant from the Jewish Community Foundation; we brought in a Rabbinical student to help Mel, Dan and Mike during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Eric Dangott not only helped with meals and services, but he had an opportunity to meet with and connect to our residents throughout the holidays.

So, we look back on these chagim (holidays) with gratitude for our ability to observe and celebrate, and appreciation for all of those staff, volunteers, and others who did what they did so that we were able to observe and celebrate during this High Holiday season.

Shana Tova, and Shabbat Shalom.

You might think that the time of life between Primary School and College or Graduate School is the peak time for learning. It’s a time when your brain is like a sponge, you have an abundance of energy, and generally fewer responsibilities than you will as an adult. Well, I believe that there is second peak period in your life for learning. For those who are fortunate enough to be in relatively good physical and mental health in their later years, that period of their lives can also be filled with learning. Knowing this, we provide an abundance of opportunities for learning at Handmaker.

Yiddish class once a month refreshes our Yiddish speakers’ memories, and teaches some residents a new language that they are not quite as familiar with. At current events class, residents discuss the news of the day, and often also get a history lesson from other knowledgeable residents who want to share their wisdom.

Every Monday we have a Torah Study class, full of engaged learning. And after the Torah is read every Shabbat morning at services, there is often an opportunity to study again, after we have our Kiddush lunch.

Those who want to expand their minds creatively can attend our watercolor painting class, or come to one of our Learn Art from the Masters classes with Tucson Museum of Art docents to learn how to paint in the style of famous painters. And, starting this fall, we will host a series of “Art Talks” on a variety of artists given by docents from the Tucson Museum of Art, arranged with the local Brandeis National Committee. (For more information, go to handmaker.org/about/calendar/spiritual-cultural or tucsonbnc.org.)

Every month from October through April, we have lectures on a variety of interesting Jewish topics given by Rabbis, Judaic Studies professors and other brilliant volunteers in our community.

And, for residents who are interested in learning about other cultures and places, they can feel like they have traveled there when they attend our Around the World program. At each class, attendees learn about the history and culture of different places around the world and celebrate the art, traditions and music of the place that they are studying, creating a craft inspired by that destination. Residents can also participate in our Out and About program, taking trips to visit interesting places out and about in Tucson such as the Tucson Botanical Gardens, International Wildlife Museum and the Pima Air and Space Museum.

Learning at Handmaker is not just about intellectual pursuits. If they would like to take an exercise or yoga class, or learn Tai Chi, those classes are all available to our residents on a regular basis as well.

So, while our minds may not be as sponge-like in our 80’s and 90’s as they were in our teens, we often have more time and patience and want to learn just for the sake of learning in our later years. Our Handmaker residents do love to learn, and we continue to create opportunities for them to do so, right in their very own homes.

And lucky me, only in my 5^th decade, I get to learn along with them.

Anyone over the age of 50 years has likely read a self-help book in the interest of self-improvement.  Brian Litwak, one of our Handmaker residents, spent years studying these, but found that they were of little help to him. One year, while on vacation, he stumbled upon the author Joseph Campbell. He heard Campbell being interviewed by Bill Moyers on PBS Television, and was struck by what Campbell was saying.   

He talked about how an unexamined life is of little value, and that if you have filled the shaker of your life full of experiences, you will have evidence to examine that will give you answers about your own personal life.

That caught Brian’s attention because ‘it was describing an action that we can take so that we can find meaning in our life”. 

He began to read every one of Joseph Campbell’s books, and learned about Campbell’s concept of the “Hero’s Journey”, which is a broad template for a variety of myths. In fact, the movie Star Wars was based on this myth pattern. This idea can also be applied to our own lives, because everyone is on a journey of self-discovery with different steps along the way. If we recognize the journey, we will live a fully realized life, and find our bliss.  These ideas changed Brian’s life.

Brian had lived most of his life in California, teaching exceptional fifth and sixth grade students. After a series of illnesses, he moved to Tucson, and into Handmaker. This was not the path that he was expecting. But, he has since realized that perhaps it was just part of his journey. He says that “when we recognize what our journey is, we feel more satisfied. Sometimes it feels like we are just stumbling along, until we realize that the stumbling is the journey. We always have to adapt to what is changing in our life. And at this point in my life, there is change every day.”

He also has read Joseph Campbell's writings about how tribes all over the world have special roles for their elders. The elders are the information keepers, and are called the “imperishables” in just about every tribe. If they share their knowledge with the next generation, then the tribe will survive.

That happens here at Handmaker. We strive to facilitate “L’dor V’dor”, passing on traditions and knowledge from generation to generation, through our intergenerational programs, providing opportunities for our elders to share their experiences with future generations.

Every two months, Brian speaks at the New Employee Orientation so that the newly hired staff at Handmaker can learn about working with the elderly. In this way, he is sharing his knowledge. There is a lot that we can learn from the elders of his generation, we only have to listen.

Every Friday evening at Handmaker, we bring in the light of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. We have a short service at 4:30pm in our Great Room, followed by a beautiful Shabbat meal at a long community table with challah bread from Nadine’s bakery, sweet Manischewitz wine, and Matzah Ball soup.

This Shabbat ritual is something that the 18-20 “regulars” look forward to every week. We even have a few regular guests. They are volunteers and family members who enjoy joining us, and we are so happy to welcome them to our table.

Some who attend the service and dinner do so because they have always done so. They grew up in a home with a special Shabbat evening meal every Friday night with family, friends and challah, and continued the tradition with their own families when they had them. And now, they are happy that they are able to still have the opportunity to have a special Shabbat meal every Friday night at Handmaker.  And they don’t have to cook it!

Some of those who attend remember having Shabbat dinners when they were growing up in their parents’ home, but perhaps were not so regular about continuing on that tradition in their own homes. They are grateful to return to a tradition that brings back fond memories, as well as much comfort and joy.

And there are also some who come who did not grow up with Shabbat meals, or have them regularly in their own homes, but somehow made their way to the Great Room one Friday night and enjoyed it so much that they have made it a part of their routine here at Handmaker

While most of those who join us at Shabbat are Jewish, not all are, and not all of our Jewish residents attend the service and meal. They are all invited when they first move in, or if they are visiting in one of the rehab neighborhoods, and continue to be invited. Some are interested and some, not so much. Sometimes, it takes a few weeks, or a few months before they decide that they want to try it, or longer. Sometimes they never do.

Recently, one of our residents who had been living at Handmaker for five years decided to join us. She had become friendly with another resident who liked to go regularly, and her friend talked her in to trying it. Sometimes peer pressure can be a good thing. Ruth said that she did not grow up going to services, or having Shabbat dinners, but she wanted to try it with her friend. She mentioned that she did not think that she would know any of the prayers or tunes, but she did not seem that concerned. I sat next to her, to make sure that she was comfortable, and to help her find her way in the Siddur, or prayer book. As the service got started, I thought that I heard her sing along softly to the blessing over the candles, but I could not be sure. She seemed to hum along to some of the other prayers, and then sang the Shema loud and clear. Interesting, I thought. Somewhere along the way she learned these prayers, she just does not remember that she did. I did not ask her, I did not want to put her on the spot, but it was beautiful to see and hear memories awakened in her that she did not know she had. Needless to say, she has now become a regular.

We love to have guests at our Shabbat dinners as well. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Nanci Levy at 322-3632 or nlevy@handmaker.org to make arrangements.

We also have Shabbat services every Saturday morning at 9:30am. No reservations are necessary for the Shabbat morning service, just show up in the Great Room any Saturday morning!

One of the most valuable resources that a person can give of is their time. We are so fortunate to have more than 40 volunteers who give their time every week at Handmaker, each helping to fulfill Handmaker’s mission of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Tzedakah (just and charitable deeds) and Chesed (loving kindness).

Of the over 40 volunteers at Handmaker, most come every week, and some come more than once a week. We have volunteers leading book club, teaching a Yiddish class, leading Torah Study, knitting with residents, calling bingo, teaching art classes, playing games, painting nails, going with residents on outings, or just sitting and talking with our residents. Some have been volunteering at Handmaker for decades, some for just a few months. We have volunteers in their 80s, and some who are just in their teens. And every one of them help to make Handmaker the special place that it is.

Six of our volunteers bring their dogs, so most every day we have animals visiting Handmaker. Many of our residents love animals. For some of them, a visit with a dog is the highlight of their day. And no wonder, studies have shown that petting dogs can lower your blood pressure, as well as increase levels of the hormone oxytocin, which helps us to feel happy. And it shows. These amazing volunteers and their canine friends bring much joy to our residents’ lives.

Every Shabbat (Saturday) morning and for every Jewish Holiday for over 20 years, volunteers have led Jewish services at Handmaker. These generous souls make it possible for Handmaker residents to practice their Judaism within easy walking distance of their homes. At the services there are many other regulars who attend and help residents find their page in the Siddur, chant Torah or Haftorah, or help set-up the Kiddush lunch. Our residents love having visitors at services, as volunteers or as congregants, so please come by any Saturday morning at 9:30am. http://www.handmaker.org/living-at-handmaker/spiritual-life

Handmaker residents are well taken care of, and the dedicated and loving volunteers who come and visit regularly make a very special difference in all of the lives that they touch. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at Handmaker, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Jennifer Ladd Omo at jomo@handmaker.org.

Every year at the Passover Seder we tell the story of Passover. This is one of the highlights of most Seder meals. One of the reasons that we tell the story at the Seder is for our children who attend the Seder meals. This tradition of telling the Passover story at the Seders ensures that this story will be passed along from generation to generation.

 While we did have some children join us at our Passover Seders at Handmaker, we also had a large number of people who attended who were in their 80’s, 90’s and even over 100 who have probably heard the story at least that many times in their lives. And while they certainly know the story well, they never tire of hearing it. Hearing it again every year helps them to remember it, and to remember Seders from their childhood, adulthood and in later years. And, of course, it is tradition!

Since a large number of our employees at Handmaker are not Jewish, Passover gives us the opportunity to share our story with them as well. There is a staff training every year in the weeks leading up to Passover so that our staff can learn about what Passover is, partly so that they can better understand our special food restrictions during this time of year. The servers who work at the Seders also get the added bonus of hearing the story of Passover along with our residents as it is told at the Seder. They have many questions, of course, and that is especially appropriate at this time of year.

All visitors to Handmaker during Passover also get somewhat acquainted with Passover, since they cannot bring in any outside food or drinks during Passover. And everyone who is staying at Handmaker during Passover gets a taste for Matzah and other foods of Passover, because that is what is served here. Many of them shared concerns for what they would be served during Passover, but those that I have spoken to really enjoyed learning about Passover and tasting some of the Passover foods. Although, gefilte fish is really an acquired taste.

After making Matzah Brei with residents earlier this week, I was pushing a cart of Matzah down the hall. There were several pharmacy students sitting on a bench visiting with one of our residents. When I stopped to chat, I told them what I had been making, and they looked at me blankly. It turns out they did not know what Passover was, and had never heard of or tasted Matzah. They were treated to the story of Passover, as well as a few pieces of Matzah. I think that they enjoyed them both.

So, during this time of year, we should tell the Passover story of to our children, but we cannot forget to tell the story to others around us as well. For everyone can benefit from hearing the story.

Hope that you and your families enjoyed a wonderful Passover!