At Los Angeles Jewish Health, B'not Mitzvah to Remember

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At Los Angeles Jewish Health, B'not Mitzvah to Remember

Jan 31, 2023

Casey Joseph, Judith Karon, Marcia Mass and Sue Solender with Rabbi Ron Goldberg — Judith Karon, Casey Joseph, Marcia Mass and Sue Solender with Rabbi Ron Goldberg

The great dramatist and author George Bernard Shaw famously declared that "Youth is wasted on the young." But Shaw clearly never met the residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health, whose incredible energy, dynamism, and desire to learn prove it's always a good time to engage in a journey of self-discovery.

Last month, four Los Angeles Jewish Health residents celebrated their b'not mitzvah. In a ceremony typically celebrated by 12 or 13 year olds, the 4 women stood in front of their community at Eisenberg Village to read from the Torah and offer their interpretations of its text, in the process honoring the faith of their forebearers and affirming their commitment to Jewish peoplehood.

For Casey Joseph, Judith Karon, Marcia Mass and Sue Solender, deciding to study for an adult bat mitzvah required a leap of faith on multiple levels.

"Whether you're a teenager or a woman somewhat past that, it takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of family and friends and chant words in an unfamiliar language, becoming links in a chain that extends all the way back to Mt. Sinai," says Rabbi Ron Goldberg, rabbi of Los Angeles Jewish Health's Eisenberg Village campus. "I am just thrilled for these women, whose determination and hard work were on display for everyone to see."

Rabbi Goldberg officiated at the ceremony, the outgrowth of an adult b'nai mitzvah program he put together with Chief Mission Officer for Los Angeles Jewish Health Rabbi Karen Bender. He says most female residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health never had the opportunity to read from the Torah as young adults—and that he and Rabbi Bender are thrilled to help them engage with Jewish liturgy and tradition.

"Today our female residents—who as girls may have been denied a chance to do what their male counterparts were doing—get to stand up and speak for themselves," Rabbi Goldberg says.

Marcia Mass with President-CEO Dale Surowitz

Making her own decisions about what she could do was particularly important to

Casey Joseph, 69, a native of Pittsburgh who moved to Los Angeles with her family

when she was 11. "I was always interested in learning about Judaism, but I was always

told ‘no' because it was something reserved for boys," she says. "I never stopped

thinking about it and knew it would be important for me to do at some point. Being

at Los Angeles Jewish Health, I realized now was my moment, and I reached out and

grabbed it."

Sue Solender, 80, felt similarly. "When I was in grade school, the Jewish community in my hometown of Minneapolis built a Hebrew school, and I wanted to go, but my mother told me I couldn't," she says. "So, I waited and waited, and once I arrived at Los Angeles Jewish Health, I decided that, if they ever had an adult bat mitzvah study group, that would be a sign."

For Marcia Mass, 81, the bat mitzvah was a chance to connect with her roots. "My parents moved out to Los Angeles to get away from the orthodoxy of my father's family, so they were not religious, and we never did anything special to mark the holidays," she recalls. "When I had my own daughters, I decided it was important for them to be raised as Jews and to learn about their culture, and both of them had bat mitzvahs."

Yet, Marcia never fully explored her own Judaism, and Los Angeles Jewish Health opened her up to the possibility. "I studied hard, and I'm so thrilled it came together and that I was able to share it with three other strong women," she says. "It was a marvelous experience."

Casey Joseph with Chairman Andrew Berman

This was the second adult bat mitzvah for Judith Karon, 83. In 1995, she studied with her rabbi in Duluth, Minnesota, and took advantage of the bat mitzvah event as an occasion to have a family reunion. "People came from all over the country, and I did the whole thing: Torah reading, haftorah, big party with music. It was special. But this time, at Los Angeles Jewish Health, it was much more spiritually significant to me," Judith says.

"Part of what was so wonderful was that the four of us developed a closeness as we learned and prepared together," she continues. "Also, when I got up in front of the congregation, I saw the place was packed, and I was just blown away. All of our friends were there, and our fellow residents, and the staff, and even the chairman of the board of directors and the CEO."

During the ceremony, Los Angeles Jewish Health CEO and President Dale Surowitz presented the b'not mitzvah with Kiddush cups; Andrew Berman, chairman of Los Angeles Jewish Health's board, handed out commemorative certificates to mark the occasion. Their presence was just one of the many things that made the warmth and excitement in the room that day palpable, Judith says. "There was just this incredible sense of community. You really had to be there to experience it!"

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At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Celebrating the Art (and Craft) of Creative Possibility

Ninety-year-old Los Angeles Jewish Health resident Norma Garber is passionate about her craft. Trained as a dressmaker during her youth in England, Norma has spent a lifetime honing her sewing abilities – skills she deploys with stunning results as one of the most prolific artisans at work in the vibrant Arts and Crafts Room on the Eisenberg Village campus. Norma’s creations take a wide variety of forms. “I’ve made clothing, table runners, placemats, bottle bags for wine or any kind of liquor, challah covers, matzo covers, and more,” she says. “I dedicate about five hours each day to the Arts and Crafts Room, and it is absolutely my happy place.” For Norma, the effort is its own reward. “I do it for love, plain and simple,” she says. “It also allows me to give back to LA Jewish Health because I sell the things I make, and the proceeds get reinvested, so we always have a steady stream of supplies to use.” Radka Falk & Norma Garber All visitors to the campus have access to this wonderful trove of incredible handicrafts, notes Radka Falk, the longtime creative force behind LA Jewish Health’s arts and crafts activities. “Everything we make is available for purchase, and it’s all one-of-a-kind,” she says. Radka emigrated from Bulgaria in 2000 and found her way to employment at Los Angeles Jewish Health six years later. As an expert craftsperson in her native country, the job in the Arts and Crafts Room fits her like a beautifully sewn glove. “I feel blessed to work here and to spend time with our amazing residents; I love them, they love me – and love is always inspirational,” she says. “Doing all this stuff I’m passionate about is such a pleasure. When my daughter came to work with me one day and saw the Arts and Crafts Room, she said, ‘It looks like they created this job just for you!’” Whether it’s sewing, knitting, or designing, “Radka can do anything – you have no idea how talented this woman is!” Norma says. “She’s the number one reason I come to the Arts and Crafts Room every day; she’s what makes it so special.” The feeling, says Radka, is mutual. “Norma gives her heart and soul to this place, and the things that she and the other residents produce are truly extraordinary,” she enthuses. Radka, Norma, and the rest of the Arts and Crafts Room crew often take their show on the road, setting up displays at Los Angeles Jewish Health support group luncheons and other events to advertise their offerings. “Our items sell beautifully,” Norma says. “The most popular items are probably the things we make for babies.” But interested shoppers need not wait for a special event to peruse the Arts and Crafts Room wares. “Especially as people start to think about buying holiday gifts, they should know they can come see us anytime,” Radka says. “I’m here Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm, and I’m always available to show people around!” Norma Garber

National Rankings Highlight Excellence at Los Angeles Jewish Health

In the world of senior care, there are multiple measures of success. Maintaining seniors’ health and improving their quality of life are the most obvious markers, and in these arenas, Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) is a leading care provider on the national stage. A recently released national report is further testament to LAJH’s commitment to providing the highest levels of care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program, has published its latest round of data evaluating the quality of care provided by skilled nursing facilities. Among CMS’ findings: When it comes to avoiding hospital readmissions, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Mark Taper Skilled Nursing Building received a number one ranking out of more than 15,000 skilled nursing facilities in the United States (according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are 15,183 such facilities nationwide), and the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center is approximately the 80th percentile. These numbers are calculated as part of CMS’ Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program, which examines all-cause hospital readmissions on an annual basis and awards incentive payments to those facilities whose readmission rates remain low. In other words, facilities are recognized and rewarded for providing high level care that keeps readmission to hospitals lower. Those financial rewards can then be reinvested in the facilities to continue enhancing quality of care – and, ultimately, to further reduce readmissions. “We’re incredibly proud of these best-in-class results, which are made possible by the dedication and expertise of our Los Angeles Jewish Health staff,” says Timothy Carlson, chief nursing officer for Los Angeles Jewish Health. “Through the early detection and management of changes in condition, the provision of high-quality care, and strong communication and coordination with community-based physicians, we are able to help Southern California seniors thrive.” LAJH facilities were not the only ones to be recognized by SNF VPB for exceptional performance. “During the CMS evaluation, skilled nursing facilities garner points, between one and 100. All facilities that receive 100 points get the top distinction,” Carlson says, meaning Taper was one of numerous facilities to earn a number one ranking. Still, this achievement places LAJH in rarefied company alongside the nation’s other very best senior healthcare services. “These numbers make it clear that Los Angeles Jewish Health is a central destination for extraordinary senior care,” Carlson says. “We are committed to continuing that excellence in the months and years to come.” Taper Building staff during Staff Appreciation Week Taper Building staff during Staff Appreciation Week Taper Building staff during Staff Appreciation Week

Los Angeles Jewish Health Empowers Extraordinary Recovery

Life is a joy for Marilyn Poliskin. The 88-year-old Los Angeles Jewish Health resident delights in diverse activities (jewelry making, painting, playing bingo, exercise), advocating for her peers (she serves as Fifth Floor Ambassador for the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer building), and spending quality time with friends. But Marilyn didn’t always see things through such rose-colored glasses; just 18 months ago, she was fighting for her very survival. When asked about the dramatic turnaround, she credits the “incredible people and environment” she found at Los Angeles Jewish Health. Born and raised in Patterson, New Jersey, Marilyn moved west with her husband and three children in the early 1970s. After the kids graduated from Beverly Hills High School, she and her husband separated, and she put down roots on her own in Santa Monica. It was then that she began a fulfilling, multi-decade career as an accounting supervisor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a “dream job” that allowed her to be part of an organization that was making a tangible difference in sick children’s lives. Unexpectedly, one of Marilyn’s own (now adult) children, her daughter Amy, fell ill herself, with breast cancer. In order to be as present as possible for Amy – a single mother to a young son, Elias – Marilyn retired from Make-A-Wish after 23 years and focused on trying to help Amy heal. Tragically, the cancer ultimately took Amy’s life, and Marilyn became a full-time caregiver to eight-year-old Elias. “I lost my daughter, my mother, and my husband (we separated but never divorced) in the same year, and suddenly I was raising my grandson all alone,” she says. “It was obviously a difficult time, but I was determined to be there for Elias and to give him everything he needed.” It was after Elias had grown up and left the house that Marilyn developed a serious health issue. It took months to diagnose the problem (pneumonia, and a cascading series of complications that resulted from it), during which her son, Scott, who lives and runs a business in Indiana, took up temporary residence with her for eight months and tirelessly advocated for her as she underwent countless tests across multiple medical facilities. In the interim, Marilyn lost 86 pounds, and her blood pressure began to dip dangerously low. “My blood pressure kept going down, and I would pass out,” she says. “It got so bad I couldn’t even stand up, and eventually I was bedridden.” As time passed, Marilyn sunk into a devastating depression. “Honestly, it began to feel like I couldn’t go on,” she recalls. “What was the point if I wasn’t ever able to get out of bed and walk again?” But Scott refused to let her give up, and through his determination they secured an open spot at Los Angeles Jewish Health. When she arrived, a switch inside her flipped. “My son and the therapy department at LAJH saved my life, no question,” she says. “I didn’t think I was capable of recovering, but Scott got me here, and the therapists, certified nurse assistants, licensed vocational nurses, and everyone else encouraged me in the most remarkable way and encouraged me to push myself. I kept thinking of Elias, and how he had already suffered so much loss, and how much I wanted to continue to be a presence for him. So, I took a deep breath, and decided to try.” A year and a half later, the results are nothing short of astonishing. Marilyn is up and about every day, chatting with friends (“There isn’t any floor here where people don’t know me,” she laughs), decorating her room, and investing her energy in making life brighter for those around her. “My main wish now is to be healthy for other people,” she says. “I don’t like to see them depressed because I was there, and it makes me so happy when I can make someone else happy.” Marilyn also attributes her recovery to the love and assistance of family: Scott, her other son, Tuvia, and her grandchildren (Sara, Erez, Isaiah, Elias, and his wife, Lily, whom she considers a fifth grandchild), who motivated her to find the will to keep on going. “I’m so proud of all of my grandchildren, who have been successful at such a young age,” she says. “They inspire me every day.” She says having the privilege of waking up at Los Angeles Jewish Health is another big motivator. “Living here is the most positive turn of my entire life,” she enthuses. “When I look out my window, I can see the sunrise, the moon, and the stars, and it’s all so beautiful.”