Los Angeles Jewish Home

by Kay Carmona
Los Angeles Jewish Home Resident

Holidays are an important part of our lives. They mean different things to different people; but we all agree that more than anything else, they bring families together and enrich our lives with nostalgic memories — memories to treasure and fill our lives with the love and warmth of family. This is especially true of Jewish holidays because, not only do they bring families together and weave sweet memories that last a lifetime, they are our link, or connection to the generations before us who passed on the values, commandments, and traditions of Judaism — even under the most trying circumstances — keeping it alive and current down through the ages.

Spring ushers in the festivals of Purim and Passover. I think most of us have memories of our childhood days, dressing up in wacky costumes as Queens Vashti and Esther, Mordechai, King Ahasuerus, and the booing, banging, and noisemakers at every mention of Haman. The delicious hamantaschen goodies, and the atmosphere of camaraderie and joy among family and friends.

Passover is a little more sedate, but also happy, recalling how Moses with God's Mighty Power brought us out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, leading us to the Promised Land. There, again, most of us have sweet memories — or maybe not-so-sweet memories — of Seders from our early childhood with our parents and relatives, and with Seders of our own families and relatives. I remember as a child how long and boring the Seder seemed. My Dad was a Hazan and insisted on doing the entire Seder from cover to cover, which seemed to me to last all night! Dipping in the salt water and making little matzoh sandwiches was kind of fun, and I really liked the haroset. I was so happy to hear my father say, "Now dinner is served." I remember the first time my husband and I hosted the Seder at our house. We had finally furnished our dining room, but it was barely able to accommodate so many people. We have learned from our folks that there is always room for one more, even if you have to bring in the barbeque table from the patio and the kitchen chairs. I remember how proud I was when I "graduated" from the children's table to the adults' table, and how it brought back memories when our children came to sit with us. Yes, the Jewish holidays bring fond memories of loving family and happy times.

Labels: Carmona, Family, Jewish Holiday, Judaism, Memories, Passover, Pesach, Purim, Seder, Staff

Change your life: that is the driving philosophy behind the Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN) as it seeks students for the vocational nursing Class of 2013.

ASN is currently accepting applications for the class, beginning June 2012. The 12-month full-time program will host open house events on April 3, April 17, and May 1.

The Annenberg School of Nursing, affiliated with the Los Angeles Jewish Home, is designed to prepare students for the NCLEX-PN® licensure exam. Including comprehensive classroom and skills lab instruction as well as clinical training at local hospitals and other sites, ASN students acknowledge they're better prepared in the field than their counterparts from other schools.


Interested? Come by and visit ASN during one of its open houses. Open to prospective students, high school counselors, and healthcare professionals, the next open house dates are April 3, April 17, and May 1. They all start at 5:00pm. Visitors will get an overview and tour of the facility from the school's director, Marie Fagan, as well as a talk about financial aid options from financial aid director Barbara Noblet.

The Annenberg School of Nursing is located on the Grancell Village campus of the Los Angeles Jewish Home, 7150 Tampa Avenue, in Reseda. Space is limited and reservations are required. To RSVP, or for more information, please visit the ASN website, or contact Cindy Thomas at (818) 757-4431 or ASN@jha.org.

Labels: Annenberg, Annenberg School of Nursing, Class of 2013, Education, Healthcare, Learning, Licensed Vocational Nurse, LVN, Marie Fagan, NCLEX-PN, Nursing School, Nursing Students, Open House, Staff, Vocational Nursing

by Lee Rothman, M.Ed., M.A.

The health benefits of yoga for a growing senior population are too numerous to mention. We could almost say that yoga and meditation provide a foundation for the high quality of life we all seek in our elder years.

Through the regular breathwork and purposeful movement of yoga, we improve flexibility, joint health, muscle tone, and balance. And the list doesn’t stop there. Lower blood pressure, improved circulation, and better sleep all contribute to our well-being. The most recent research also points to multiple psychological and cognitive benefits, including a decrease in anxiety and depression, a greater sense of well-being, and improvements in attention, concentration, and memory.

These benefits have long been recognized by seniors at the Jewish Home, where yoga continues to be one of our most popular fitness programs. But yoga and meditation have equally important spiritual benefits which form an important part of the most rewarding practice.

From its origins in the second century, B.C.E, yoga and spirituality were considered inseparable. The Sanskrit word yoga has the literal meaning of ‘yoke’ or ‘union,’ suggesting the important connections of its physical, mental, and spiritual components.

Our Western perspective has largely emphasized the asanas, or physical postures, and pranayama, or breathing exercises. When appreciated as a comprehensive system through the practice of meditation, yoga expands to encompass the spiritual.

Spirituality, from a yogic perspective, embodies a relationship with something greater than we are — a source of being that we have come from. As such, the spirituality presented through yogic teachings easily complements our religious beliefs, whether we identify ourselves as Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, etc.

In yoga, we experience the spiritual by activating our awareness. That awareness comes with a practice that involves asanas, pranayama, and meditation. Asanas are the various postures one goes through in a yoga session, like the cobra pose, downward dog, and tree pose, to name a few. Asanas are designed to stretch muscle groups in your body and improve blood flow throughout the body. Joints and ligaments are lubricated, cholesterol is lowered, respiration improves, and your immune system is strengthened.

However, there is also a spiritual aspect of the asanas. Asanas are designed to take us through a range of experiences in the course of one yoga session. Since effort is required and stress may occur, practicing the asana teaches us how to maintain mindfulness in times of stress.

Mindfulness is a practice that enables one to live fully in the present moment. Your awareness is completely centered on the here and now. You are not worrying about the future or thinking about the past. If you are concentrating on these words, the present moment is all that exists and you are living where life is happening.

The meditation that is part of a comprehensive yoga practice may be as simple as sitting silently with eyes closed, focusing on the breath. Or it might involve chanting a mantra out loud with accompanying hand movements.

By cultivating mindfulness through meditation, you begin to enjoy your life just the way it is, not for how you want it to be in the future or for what it was in the past. This heightened acceptance of the present moment leads to a spiritual awareness, and with it, a greater enjoyment of your life.

A regular meditation practice enables one to pause and observe the ‘reactive’ aspects of our mind without taking action. It is as if we become a proverbial fly on the wall inside ourselves. Suddenly, we can observe our world and our responses to it, then decide how we want to act upon them. Meditation tends to foster more purposeful and thoughtful action, and less reaction. Some schools of yoga (notably Kundalini) take the view that the regular practice of asanas and pranayama prepares one to meditate.

So, how do we combine the physical aspects of yoga with those that foster spiritual development? And how does this marriage manifest itself in our behavior on a daily basis? (Many yogis refer to this as taking it “off the mat.”)

With a regular yoga and meditation practice, we learn to live our life with greater integrity, honesty and respect for ourselves and others. We understand that our words have power and affect others, so we choose them more carefully. We learn to treat ourselves and others with greater kindness and compassion.

We still feel angry, impatient, frustrated and hurt. However, with the regular practice of pranayama, we learn to take a breath or two before we respond. Yogic breathing helps to calm our mind and thoughts. We abandon damaging habits, and our thinking becomes more positive. We cease judging others so negatively, with the realization that we are no better than they are. As we develop a more extensive practice, we understand deeply the concept of the oneness of all life, and glimpse the highest attainment of our spiritual existence.

Labels: Asanas, Feature Articles, For the Spirit, Kundalini, Lee Rothman, Meditation, Pranayama, Staff, Yoga

This afternoon I was entering the Eisenberg Campus by way of The Heart Walk when I noticed that the late autumn winds had blown leaves into the candle holders of the bronze Chanukiah sculpture in front of the Newman Building. As I was removing the leaves I couldn’t help but think that in just a few, short weeks I would be gathering with the residents each evening of the eight nights of Chanukah to kindle the candles that would shine from this exquisite piece of ritual Judaic art. As has been our tradition in years past, we will make the blessings together and sing Chanukah songs—in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, and English—before the Chanukiah’s flickering lights. I will remind the residents, as I always do, that the Chanukah candles may not be used for any practical purpose but should only grace our Jewish Home with their illumination and inherent beauty. The lights will be a link for all of us, not only to the miracles of our people’s shared history in days of old, but to memories of Chanukahs celebrated in each one of our uniquely individual pasts…long ago childhood twirls of dreidels, sharing latkes or sufganiyot with our children, watching the candlelight illuminate the faces of our grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. And I, as the Rabbi of Eisenberg Village, will watch the golden glow from the bronze Chanukiah dance on the beautiful, wrinkled cheeks of our beloved Jewish Home residents and marvel at the miracle of their long and fruitful years. When most of them were children, Chanukah was not a time for expensive gifts or commercial competition. Their memories are filled with gifts of the senses: the sight of a spinning dreidel; the scent of hot oil and the taste of delicious fried Chanukah treats; and, above all, the warmth that only love of family, community, and shared heritage can bring to the dark and bitter chill of winter. These were the children that would, indeed, become members of “The Greatest Generation.”

And so, as I take these moments to prepare the bronze sculpture that will soon spring to life and light, I am already filled to overflowing with the anticipation of sharing another Chanukah with the residents I am blessed to serve at the Jewish Home. They are, indeed, a collective light to the nations of the world, shining a warm glow of inspiration to everyone who is lucky enough to bask in their glow. Just by being themselves, they stand as a miraculous symbol of their people’s tenacity and longevity. For me, being able to share the Festival of Lights with these precious souls for yet another year, is the greatest gift of all.

Rabbi Rita Hertzberg leads synagogue services and provides spiritual guidance and pastoral care and counseling for the resident community of the Jewish Homes Eisenberg Village Campus. Among her well-attended spiritual education and outreach programs are her weekly Judaism class and the popular “Get Together with Rabbi Rita.”

Labels: Candles, Chanukah, Chanukiah, Dreidel, Eisenberg Village, Family, Hanukkah, Hebrew, Hertzberg, holiday, Jewish Holiday, Judaism, Ladino, Latkes, Rabbi, Staff, Sufganiyot, Yiddish

Earlier this month, we released a brand new Chanukah video featuring some of our talented, adorable residents. At the time, with about two weeks left until we started in on our eight crazy nights, we crossed our fingers and hoped the short would be well received.

It was.

We'd like to thank all the folks who helped spread our Chanukah video around. Whether you posted it as a Facebook status, on your Twitter feed, emailed it to your friends and family, or simply clicked the thumbs up button on the YouTube page, we appreciate it.

We'd also like to give a quick hat tip to all the bloggers who posted the video to their sites!

From Jewish Humor Central:

From Shades of Grey:

From the Jewish Women's Archive blog Jewesses with Attitude:

From the Interfaith Family Network Blog:

And let's not forget the blogs Life in Israel, Jacob Richman's blog, and The Daily Rabbi.

A massive thank you to all who shared our video! We hope you enjoyed it, and hope all who have yet to see it laugh just as hard as we did.

Labels: Blog, Chanukah, Cross Post, Daily Rabbi, Funny, Hanukkah, Interfaith Family Network, Jacob Richman, Jewish Humor Central, Jewish Women's Archive, Life in Israel, Shades of Grey, Song, Staff, YouTube

This article originally appeared on CancerNetwork.com, home of the journal Oncology.


By David J. Wallenstein, MD

First, I need to reiterate what Dr. Alesi and her coauthors have so clearly stated: that there is a paucity of published data on most aspects of the delivery of palliative care (PC) services in the outpatient setting, although this now appears to be changing.

Second, to clarify my perspective on the subject, I am neither an oncologist nor a health services researcher but a full-time clinician and PC physician; I trained in internal medicine, palliative and hospice medicine, and pain medicine; and I have worked full time in palliative medicine for most of the past decade, and during the past 3 years increasingly in outpatient and home-based palliative care, as distinct from home hospice care.

Third, the definition of palliative care that I use is the same as that cited by Alesi et al, originally formulated by Diane Meier, MD. As a clinician, I very much agree with Meier’s description of palliative care as “…an extra layer of support….” for the patient, the family… and for the treating oncologist. Practically, I view the palliative medicine specialist’s skills to include (1) expert pain and symptom management; and (2) clarification of patients’ and families’ individual goals of treatment. In my clinical practice, I view hospice care as a subspecialty within the broader specialty of palliative medicine and operationally define it as specialized treatment for patients with a likely prognosis of 6 months or less in whom the primary clinical goals are comfort and avoidance of hospitalization, rather than disease-modifying treatment and the prolongation of life.

Finally, I do not view palliative medicine as ‘pre-hospice’ care or enrollment in hospice care as a necessary goal of PC, although many oncology patients who receive concurrent PC eventually receive hospice care.

Concurrent PC has been documented by numerous investigators to be beneficial both for patients receiving oncologic treatments and for their family members. In their article, the authors review concurrent oncologic and outpatient PC in four settings—a Canadian hospital, two US teaching hospitals, and a for-profit oncology practice, with emphasis on the latter, a ‘business-based practice.’

What is most notable to me about the article is the inherent adaptability of PC to a wide variety of ambulatory oncologic practice settings: a large Canadian hospital, where the healthcare and reimbursement system supports a high level of integration of concurrent palliative and oncologic care; two US teaching hospitals with well-established PC programs, including ambulatory clinics; and a pilot program embedding a PC practice within a business-based outpatient oncology practice. From the outcome data presented, the concurrent provision of PC to oncology patients in the US Oncology practice appears to have enhanced patients’ quality of life and improved the efficiency of the practice from a strictly business perspective. The description of the other practice venues strongly suggests that concurrent PC benefits cancer patients, their families, and their oncologists.

The adaptability of PC, particularly ambulatory PC provided concurrently with oncologic treatment, is highly relevant to the innovative modes of healthcare delivery that are being developed in light of impending changes in the US healthcare delivery system, the necessity of cost containment, and demographic shifts in the US population that are associated with aging of the ‘baby-boom generation.’ As healthcare delivery modalities such as the accountable care organization (ACO) and the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) are vetted and refined, this inherent adaptability will be key in program development offering wide patient access to the “extra layer of support” that PC provides.

Also notable about the authors’ description of four models of ambulatory PC provided concurrently with oncologic treatment, particularly the US Oncology model, is the significant contributions of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in patient assessment and, especially, in ongoing patient management. As a palliative care physician, it is notable to me that the US Oncology PC practice evolved from being composed of an attending PC physician and a fellow to a service including a PC attending and an APN.

In my own clinical practice, on the inpatient PC service in both University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) hospitals, in my outpatient pain and PC clinic, and in the home-based PC practice run by the Los Angeles Jewish Home’s Skirball Hospice Program, I work in close collaboration with APNs, both nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, to manage patients. One of the focuses of the profession of nursing is on the experiences of patients and their families in illness and in the healthcare system, a unique perspective that informs the ‘extra layer of support’ offered by palliative care.

As discussed in the article by Alesi et al, Muir estimates that embedding a PC practice within the US Oncology group saves referring oncologists 170 minutes per palliative care consultation which “… could [then] be used by the oncologist to see additional patients and to spend more time focusing on the oncologic aspects of their patients’ care.” He also cites the benefits to patients, in terms of better symptom management and a more nuanced goals-of-care discussion resulting from ongoing close collaboration between oncologists and PC providers in the US Oncology practice.

Closer collaboration between oncologists and PC providers can only be beneficial to all, not only in practice but also in training. (Note the description of the Virginia Commonwealth University program, in which oncology and PC fellows work in collaboration.) At UCLA, as we design the curriculum for our palliative care fellowship, we are very deliberately building collaborative experiences with oncology into our training program.

I do see some areas of concern in the US Oncology Model of care. As the PC practice embedded in the US Oncology practice is described, it sounds as if total responsibility for the goals-of-care discussion lies with the PC team. I am not sure that this is salutary. A goals-of-care discussion, time-consuming as it may be, is as much a part of oncologic treatment as is planning chemotherapy or staging disease. While I would never presume to speak for oncologists as a profession, my understanding in talking with my UCLA oncology colleagues is that most would not be inclined to relinquish complete responsibility for goals-of-care discussions to their PC colleagues. Again, in my practice, close collaboration between myself and the treating oncologist is the key and, when I am consulted to assist with goals-of-care discussions, I generally contact the oncologist and ask, “What are your treatment plans?”

From the purely business perspective, the authors, citing the unfortunate example of the specialty of medical genetics, point out that PC, like other ‘cerebral’ specialties, is not financially self-supporting; this raises concerns about the sustainability of the field.

In the US Oncology practice, embedding the PC practice helped to increase the productivity—and presumably the revenues—of the oncologist, apparently by contracting out some of the less highly remunerative components of patient care to the lower-paid PC physician and APN. Aside from issues of fairness in physician compensation, does this sort of arrangement support the growth, health, and long-term viability of PC as a medical specialty? Recall that there is no CPT code specifically for goals-of-care discussions and time spent in such activity is uncompensated, unless it is directly linked to treatment or evaluation. In practice, billing codes for extended patient counseling are poorly remunerated compared with other codes, it is often difficult to generate revenues from such counseling, and some institutions discourage providers from routinely using these billing codes, fearing that their repeated use will trigger audits from entitlement programs and insurers.

As Alesi and coauthors have demonstrated, outpatient palliative care provides an extra layer of support for patients, families, and healthcare providers when provided concurrently with outpatient oncologic treatment in a wide variety of practice settings. The key to the success of concurrent outpatient palliative care will be strategic implementation and integration, with the goal of promoting the sustainability of palliative medicine as a specialty.

Labels: ACO, Alesi, Cancer, CancerNetwork.com, Healthcare, Oncology, Palliative Care, Palliative Medicine, PCMH, Physician, Skirball Hospice, Staff, Wallenstein

Skirball Hospice chaplain Rabbi Aviva Winocur Erlick wrote an amazing article for The Jewish Journal. We decided to share it.

I work as an on-call hospice chaplain, and I am often paged following the death of a patient. I was called recently to support a rather large group who had just witnessed the death of a woman in her 90s, whom I’ll call Bea.

Bea had been not just a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother to family members, but a surrogate grandmother to others, who came to cry with the family.

I shared a prayer written to be read following a death, which includes the phrase: “even though her life was incomplete.”

Bea’s loved ones thanked me but then shared that they disagreed with the prayer. Bea’s life had been absolutely complete. There wasn’t a thing more that she or anyone else had wished she had achieved. They even showed me a video taken the morning of her death. Bea could be seen speaking calmly from her bed, wishing blessings to all of her loved ones, by name. She was clearly at peace with her circumstances and wanted everyone to feel the same.

This week’s portion, Chayei Sara (The Life of Sara), actually begins with her death. The second sentence of the portion reads: “Sarah died in … Canaan; Abraham began to eulogize for her, and to weep for her” (Genesis 23:2).

Commentators often take time this week to eulogize Sara, too. As it says in the Talmud, “Three days are for crying, and seven for eulogizing.” Weeping is essential, but eulogizing, telling the story of a person’s life, must not be put off too long. It is essential to the grieving process to experience both our sadness at the loss, and our faith that the life lived was good, worthy of recollection, an inspiration going forward.

The first sentence of the parasha seems to teach this point. To translate literally, it says: “And the life of Sara was the 100 years and 20 years and 7 years of Sara’s life” (Genesis 3:1).

Why the odd repetitiveness? Rashi, a medieval commentator, writes that it is because all of Sara’s years were equally good. The Sfat Emet, a Chasidic teacher, adds that this doesn’t just mean that no days were especially bad. For a righteous person, no day is any less spectacular than the most amazing day of one’s life. Every year, every day for Sara, was fantastic!

So how do we square this with what we know about Sara’s life: the pain of famine; the disgrace of having to bed local kings to save her husband’s life; the frustration of waiting into her 90s to birth Isaac; and the humiliation of growing to despise, and eventually evict, her servant Hagar and her husband’s first son, Ishmael, from their camp?

Apparently, despite all these hardships, Sara was also consistently happy. According to Jewish teachings, happiness is not the result of good news or pleasant circumstances. It is a matter of perspective. “Aizeh hu ashir? Hasameach b’chelko,” it says in the Mishna: Who is rich? The one that is happy with his lot.” Similarly, the Psalmist writes, “Mi haish hechafetz chayim? Ohev yamim lirot tov.” Who among you loves life? The one who wants to see good all his days.

Sara lived every day as a good day not because good things happened, but because she wanted to see them this way. She chose to be satisfied, to find reason for gratitude — as Bea did even on her deathbed. It is a mental exercise that these women model for us all, both on the physical and spiritual planes.

Being “happy with our lot” usually brings to mind the idea of being aware of, and satisfied with, our circumstances. If we choose to, we can find opportunities to appreciate, rather than take for granted or be chronically discontent. Call it an “attitude of gratitude,” a mindfulness practice or a legacy in the making.

Beyond this is the question of calling. Our “lot” or “portion” could just as easily mean our truest work, our destiny. God speaks to our hearts, and if we listen, we can live God’s work through our own. Sara served as half of the partnership that founded our religion, helping her husband Abraham to teach the word of the One God. According to Rashi, when Genesis says the couple traveled with the “souls they had made,” it meant the people who had been won over to the faith that was yet to be named Judaism. Sara was a Teacher of Israel.

May we all learn to live the life of the righteous taught by Sara and by Bea. When we pass away, may there be many who gather to weep, eulogize and dedicate their lives to what we taught, just by how we chose to live.

Shabbat Shalom.



The Skirball Hospice is a program within the Los Angeles Jewish Home's continuum of care.

Labels: Chaplain, Chayei Sara, Complete, Cross Post, Death, For the Spirit, Hospice Care, Jewish Journal, Life, Rabbi Aviva Winocur Erlick, Share, Skirball Hospice, Staff, Torah

The act of becoming a bar mitzvah, a public acknowledgment of a young man’s obligation to fulfill the commandments, is a traditional part of Judaism. In today’s society, the spiritual commitment of young women is often celebrated as well. For most of the Jewish Home’s female residents, becoming a bat mitzvah was unheard of when they were twelve or thirteen.

This was true for Jewish Home resident Marilyn Matty. As a young girl, she and her sister attended Sunday school, but not Hebrew school. As a married woman, she learned to keep a kosher home. Marilyn became involved in a Conservative synagogue and, as a pianist, worked with the choir. As life brought its share of challenges, her connection with Judaism was loosened. One day, about three years ago, she realized she wanted to go back to her community and began attending synagogue again. “That was the beginning of my feelings of getting back to Judaism,” Marilyn recalls.
After moving to the Jewish Home in February 2010, the feeling became even stronger, leading her to become a bat mitzvah on November 5, 2011, at age 85. View photos of Marilyn here.

Rabbi Anthony Elman, the Jewish Home’s Director of Spiritual Life, worked closely with Marilyn for 1 ½ years in preparation for her bat mitzvah. He regards this as a valuable part of the overall work of the Home’s rabbis in enhancing the spiritual life of residents and of the Home itself. “We try to respond to the desire of individual residents to develop further in their spiritual tradition,” said Rabbi Elman. “We also provide learning opportunities to a range of resident groups and meaningful prayer services. Our goal is to create a climate for the whole community where the spiritual dimension of life is valued and respected.” In Rabbi Elman’s view, the Home’s rabbis are here not just to allow observant Jews to continue their religious practice, but to give an opportunity for all residents to live spiritually rich lives.

When he addressed Marilyn after she had read from the Torah, he said: “You, Marilyn, are truly worthy of being called to the Torah as bat mitzvah. You achieved the necessary learning and read from the Torah beautifully. Kol hakavod for that – all honor to you. But becoming a bat mitzvah is much more than learning and reading. In my eyes, it is who you are as a whole person who merits this honor today. Walking in the footsteps of our father Abraham, you exhibit the principle of chesed – loving kindness. It is a giving from the heart – not just on a whim, but in a solid, robust, long-lasting kind of way. I have been truly moved by how you have gone out of your way to help and support others, and to practice bikur cholim – visiting the sick.”

Here, in her own words, is Marilyn’s story of accomplishing this great spiritual achievement.

This week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, is the story of Abraham and Sarah. It tells the story of leaving your present home and going toward the unknown. God told Abraham to leave his land, his birthplace, and go to a place God will show him, and he will become a great nation. Abraham took his wife, Sarah, and started on a journey to a new, and unknown, life.

Leaving your familiar home to go to the unknown is scary and uncertain. Like Abraham, I believe a message from God gave me the choice to stay in my home or search for another place to live, with no guarantee of a great nation. With the able assistance and guidance of my daughter, Tina, we found the Jewish Home, Grancell Village. This was the unknown to me, a new place, new room, and new faces, and maybe not a great nation, but a lot of love. Abraham headed west to Canaan and I headed east to Reseda.

After Abraham and Sarah lived in Canaan for 10 years, we are told that Sarah was barren, she had no children. Commentators have suggested that this repetition means she physically had no children, but spiritually she had so many as she inspired so many people.

I in turn find this inspiring. I will talk later about a woman at the Home who inspired me so much, and changed my life.

Sarah decided that the best way for Abraham (and perhaps her) to start a family was for Abraham to take Sarah’s servant, Hagar, as a concubine, with Sarah’s blessing. I see this as a great act of giving, of generosity. I think it was a mitzvah from Sarah’s heart.

Like Sarah, doing something for someone else is very important to me: visiting residents who are ill, seeing new residents or seeing someone who needs company. I have made reaching out to others a part of my life at the Home, and it gives me great pleasure. But if we go back to the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, we see that there might sometimes be a downside to giving.

When Hagar became pregnant with Abraham’s child, she scorned Sarah, and this was very painful for Sarah, who perhaps had hoped that her relationship with her servant Hagar wouldn’t change.

Sarah told Abraham how badly Hagar was treating her, and he said she should do whatever she wished. Sarah was horrible to Hagar and made her life miserable.

Hagar ran away from her mistress, and, in the desert, she met a stranger in her path. Unknown to Hagar, this was an angel, a messenger from God. He asked her what she was doing and Hagar said that her mistress was unkind and she ran away. The angel of God told Hagar to return back to Sarah and that she, Hagar, would be granted many descendants, so many descendants that they would be uncountable. So Hagar returned home and had a son whom they named Ishmael – “God heard” – that is, God heard Hagar’s pain.

Why did Sarah do such a generous thing as give her servant to her husband for them to have a child? She hoped this would be like a child to Abraham and herself (so that Sarah would bring up the child), and fulfill God’s promise that Abraham would become father of a great nation. Sarah gave, but then it seems she regretted giving; she became filled with bitterness. This makes me question: can giving sometimes go too far?

A true mitzvah is one of giving unconditionally. But I also know that too much giving can deplete one’s resources. As well as giving, I’ve learned the importance of balance in my life. I personally find pleasure particularly in playing blackjack, bridge, reading, and allowing time for hair, nails and chit chat – things that are about fun rather than suffering. These allow me to go on being a person who can be with others in distress.

As we get older, we have to make choices and changes, especially when we are no longer able to be independent. It’s a big adjustment for everyone, but I believe God had pointed the way for me. The Jewish Home has given me a place and I’m finding communal living both beautiful and challenging. My choice to come to the Jewish Home’s Grancell Village was not at first an easy one, but it soon filled by heart and soul with joy. I adjusted, met a lot of people, and satisfied myself with love from the new feeling of community.

Being part of the Jewish Home community brought me back to Judaism, which had become misplaced from my life. I became aware of my hunger, so I started studying Hebrew and Torah, which led on to this exciting moment in my life.

When I first arrived at the Jewish Home, I met a woman who changed my life. She was a young 96 years and always eager to learn. We started reading the Torah weekly and asked questions of the Rabbi. Spending regular time with May Blank inspired me to fully understand and appreciate life. Like Sarah was to countless others, May was an inspiration to me. We developed a great friendship, so that at the end of her life she called me her “sister.” Memories of May will me daily and help carry me through to my Bat Mitzvah. May her soul rest in peace.

There was another woman who became important to me – a wonderful, brave person, Miriam, was part of a “learning threesome” with May and myself, and we became known as “The Three Ms.” Miriam was blind, and had lost a leg, but was active with us, learning and contributing her knowledge and wisdom, until her end.

There are so many wonderful people here at the Jewish Home, that my life is blessed with friendship and love.

I would like to thank Rabbi Elman for being my teacher and guide, helping me to take my place more fully as a Jewish woman. The story does not end here: I plan to continue studying Torah so as to learn and deepen my understanding of our beautiful Jewish heritage. I would also like to thank Rabbi Wendy for her support.

As I look out to the congregation and see my loving family, which include my devoted children and their spouses, grandchildren (and their spouses), sister, two nieces and a nephew, I feel such love for you all. Thank you all for being here with me today as witnesses – and my special gratitude to those of you who are participating in this service this morning. I am intensely proud of my family.

I know that my mother is giving me her blessing because this is the anniversary of her death. Rest in peace, Mom.

Finally, I wish to thank my entire Jewish Home family for their love, and for making this a wonderful Jewish community in which to live.

Once again, I am THIRTEEN!

Labels: Abraham, Around the Home, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Bible, Elman, Feature Articles, Jewish Home, Jewish Home Residents, Judaism, Marilyn Matty, Remarkable Residents, Sarah, Staff, Thirteen, Torah

Each year, the Jewish Home holds its annual Sarnat Symposium for Geriatric Care. Social workers and caregivers from across Southern California converge on the Jewish Home to hear experts in various fields relating to senior care. In that past, the only way to obtain the valuable information our experts imparted was to attend the Symposium. This year, those who work in geriatrics can now get hold of our expert lecturers’ presentations online!

In our Resources section, you’ll find a new page: Resources for Social Workers & Geriatric Professionals. Check it out to see the presentations and handouts from the 14th annual Sarnat Symposium!

Labels: Around the Home, Caregivers, Geriatric Care, Handouts, Presentations, Resources, Sarnat Symposium, Senior Resources, Social Workers, Staff

Jewish Home resident David Glicker, 82, is hilarious! Check out the video we posted on YouTube last week of a joke he shared with us. A bit of English humour to brighten your day. :)

Labels: Around the Home, David Glicker, Englishman, Funny, Guillotine, Humor, Humour, Irishman, Jewish Home Residents, Jokes, Scotsman, Staff, YouTube

Far too often, seniors in need of care confine themselves to their homes—too frail to venture out, and too proud to ask for assistance. Often, finding reliable resources on services for seniors can be difficult. And, while senior care communities have become vibrant places of health and activity, decades-old images of what senior homes used to be make some seniors and their adult children reticent to seek the help they need. Luckily, newspapers are beginning to communicate that, when it comes to senior care, there are a variety of choices. And each option balances the individual’s level of independence and medical needs.

On Monday, the Los Angeles Times’ Bob Young published a story detailing care options for seniors, featuring expert advice and insight from the Jewish Home’s very own Molly Forrest.

From better healthcare access to increased activity and social interaction, seniors who take advantage of the care options best suited to their needs tend to live longer, happier, healthier lives. And, with variety of services ranging from in-home assistance to skilled nursing (and everything in between), seniors often attain an increased level of independence and higher quality of life.

Read the full LA Times article here. And if you know a senior who could benefit from senior care services, check out our community education resources.

Labels: Adult Children, Aging, Bob Young, Cross Post, Healthy Aging, Los Angeles Times, Molly Forrest, Resources, Senior Care, Senior Resources, Seniors, Staff

Throughout the entire lifespan, most people crave human contact — whether it’s comforting hugs from a close relative, or private intimate moments with a spouse or significant other. It’s a need that never diminishes or goes away, regardless of our age.

Sometimes, though, we make the mistake of ignoring those desires in our elder community. The fact is, though, seniors make up one of the most social, active, and — if they’re healthy enough — sexually active age groups.

This is where Katherine Forsythe comes into the picture. Holding an MSW from the University of Cincinnati, she is one of the foremost authorities on sexuality and aging. Forsythe works with individuals and senior care communities across the country, educating people of all ages on issues revolving around intimacy and relationships.

Katherine’s unique area of expertise makes her a go-to person for health media. She has been quoted in WebMD, 50Fabulous, Active Over 50, and other publications. And her websites, www.getasecondwind.com and www.katherineforsythe.com, attract wide audiences.

On Wednesday, October 26th, 2011, the Jewish Home will be welcoming Katherine Forsythe to our 14th annual Sarnat Symposium. Her presentation, Honoring the Whole Person Throughout the Lifetime: Senior Sexuality Sensitivity Training for Professionals, promises to be enlightening and informative. If you’re interested in hearing Forsythe in person, visit our Sarnat Symposium webpage and register for the event today!

Labels: Aging, Get A Second Wind, GetASecondWind.com, Intimacy, Katherine Forsythe, MSW, Relationships, Sarnat Symposium, Seniors, Sexuality, Staff

by Shelly Ryan

Ok! So many of you can relate to your alarm clock going off and wanting to hit the snooze button a few times! Although I'm not a morning person, I got to work earlier than usual, not knowing what I would face! As luck would have it, I went to JEK 4 to speak to an employee and got off the elevator to find an amazing sight! One of our sweet CNAs was talking to a resident about the resident's son, and this was how the conversation went!

"My son doesn't get to visit me that often because he's always working". The response from our CNA was "That's what's fun about my job, because when I'm working I get to see you"!

The resident welled up with tears and said, "But with your job you HAVE to see me."

And our CNA responded, "That's the beauty of my job! I don't HAVE to see you, I GET to see you!"

The resident then hugged our CNA and said, "You're like my daughter."

The CNA said "You're like my Grandmother—sorry, but I'm younger than your daughter," and they both laughed! And then hugged!

These are the kind of sweet moments I get to see every day! The interaction between our staff and our residents is why I've been here for almost 30 years. Our staff treat our precious residents like family. And the feeling is mutual! Our residents feel the love and care from our staff and it's a bond that is hard to break. At the Home, our staff go beyond "work" and care for our residents as they would a member of their own family. It's truly remarkable! Every consultant and surveyor that comes here, whose job it is to find what we're doing "wrong" versus what we're doing "right", ends up remarking about the relationship between our staff and our residents! To say we're a Jewish Home family is not just "words" here.

There is a strong bond that will forever be imprinted on the hearts of both our staff and residents. If you want to experience the love, come and visit us at any of our buildings. We truly have a unique environment where our staff and residents are equally supportive and protective of each other. It's a heart-warming experience—one I would encourage all of you to experience. Are we perfect? No! But our hearts are in the right place!! There is truly no place like "HOME" and I'm blessed to see it day after day!!

I often joke that we're "chosen", and when I walk the floors I believe it's true!! Each staff member has been "chosen" to care for their residents in a unique and amazing way. When I've had an especially challenging day all I have to do is walk the floors and see what the Home has created. We are truly blessed, and I don't want to take it for granted!!

Thank you to our incredible staff, our families, our volunteers and our supporters for letting the Home be the special place that it is!!:)

Labels: Around the Home, CNA, Family, Grandmother, Mother, Residents, Shelly Ryan, Staff, Sweet Moments, Visiting

Gambling addiction among seniors is a growing problem. The cocktail of loneliness, cognitive decline, too much free time, and the perception of money to spare have the potential to create a perfect storm that could lead to a serious mental condition and a financial mess.

Enter Dr. Timothy Fong, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. His life work is dedicated to finding the root causes of — and solutions to — gambling addiction.

After receiving his Medical Doctorate from Northwestern University, Dr. Fong did his residency and served in a fellowship position at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital. He is considered a leading figure in addiction pathologies. Watch the video below for a brief introduction into Dr. Fong’s expertise.

On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, the Jewish Home will be welcoming Dr. Fong as one of our guest speakers at the 14th annual Sarnat Symposium. His discussion, Pathological Gambling: Addressing the Hidden Addiction, will delve into the underlying issues behind senior gambling addiction and the ways to help victims of this debilitating condition.

If you would like to hear Dr. Timothy Fong speak at the Los Angeles Jewish Home’s 14th annual Sarnat Symposium, visit the Sarnat Symposium webpage and register today.

Labels: Addiction, Elderly, Gambling, Neuroscience, Pathology, Psychiatry, Sarnat Symposium, Seniors, Staff, Timothy Fong, UCLA

The Jewish Home and our upcoming centennial celebration are on the cover of this week's issue of the Jewish Journal!


The Journal's Ryan Smith wrote an incredible article chronicling the Los Angeles Jewish Home's growth and evolution, and it's impact on LA's Jewish community. Smith also reports how recent state and federal budget cuts influence the Jewish Home's plans to care for 5,000 seniors within the next five years.


We're absolutely delighted to receive this excellent coverage from such a respected publication. As the Jewish Home begins celebrating its 100th birthday, we'll continue moving forward — providing world class senior healthcare for another century.


Read the full article, Turning 100: Los Angeles Jewish Home has ambitious growth plans.

Labels: 100, Budget Cuts, Centennial, Cover Story, Elderly, History, Jewish Home Services, Jewish Journal, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Ryan Smith, Seniors, Staff

The other day, some of the nursing staff at our Eisenberg Village campus planned something really fun for our residents: they organized a luau!


The residents who participated live either at the Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center, which cares for seniors with Alzheimer's disease or age-related dementia, or the Max Factor Family Foundation Nursing Building, which provides skilled nursing to seniors who need extra assistance.

When the residents saw their nurses — who are normally in scrubs — enter in hula skirts, their eyes lit up! The entire room was laughing, clapping, and singing along.

In addition to being a fun, entertaining afternoon, events like these serve a profound therapeutic purpose. Happiness is known to have incredible life-lengthening health benefits; and the positive atmosphere, the music, and the dancing promotes both physical and cognitive strength.

Labels: Aging, Alzheimer's, Around the Home, Dementia, Eisenberg Village, Elderly, Factor, Goldenberg-Ziman, Healthy Aging, Hula, Luau, Nursing, Seniors, Skilled Nursing, Staff, Video, YouTube

Earlier this week, we posted on our Facebook fan page and Twitter account an article from the Los Angeles Times about how a new study confirms that even a little exercise helps prevent heart disease. The study is gaining some pretty significant traction in the medical community. We found this article by Dr. Howard LeWine of Harvard Medical School in response to all the media buzz, and thought we'd share.

News Review From Harvard Medical School -- Study: Any Exercise Helps the Heart


Even small amounts of daily exercise help to reduce the risk of heart disease. That's the conclusion of a new review of research on the topic. Some benefit was seen with as little as 10 to 15 minutes of exercise a day. The review combined the results of 9 previous studies. All of them included information on exercise habits. Researchers looked at people who did moderate-intensity exercise (such as walking) for a least 150 minutes a week. That is the current recommended minimum. People in this group had a 14% lower rate of heart disease than those who did no exercise. Benefits of exercise were strongest among women. The study appeared in the journal Circulation. USA Today wrote about it August 2.

By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Harvard Medical School


What is the Doctor's Reaction?
Yes, we all know that exercise is good for you. But does more exercise actually prevent coronary heart disease? Not everyone has been convinced of the direct link.

People who exercise tend to be more conscious of what they eat. They are less likely to smoke. They also pay more attention to their health. Maybe that's why they are healthier.

This very comprehensive study gives us a definitive answer. It found that any amount of exercise decreases your risk of chest pain, heart attack and death from heart disease. In fact, people who don't exercise at all can decrease their risk of heart disease with as little as 10 to 15 minutes of exercise per day.

The researchers set out to define how much exercise it takes to decrease your risk of heart disease. Their benchmark was the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This is exercise that a person performs during non-work hours. It is often called leisure-time physical activity.

According to this study, people who get an average of 150 minutes per week of exercise reduce their risk of coronary heart disease by 14%. For people who average 300 minutes per week, the risk reduction improves to 20%.

Women appear to benefit more than men. The researchers found that women had a greater reduction in heart disease from similar amounts and intensity of exercise. This was unexpected. Other studies have not shown a sex difference. Also there is not a good biological explanation to account for this.

What Changes Can I Make Now?


Do you engage in any leisure-time physical activity that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat a little? If you don't, get started. Take a short walk every day, mow the lawn or plant a garden. Do something every day, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Your next goal is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. That is less than 2% of the total minutes in a week! (There are 10,080 minutes per week.)

Moderate-intensity exercise can be determined by heart rate or METs. MET stands for metabolic equivalent. One MET is the amount of energy you burn when you are sitting quietly.

Heart rate -- Moderate-intensity exercise raises your heart rate to 60% to 75% of your maximum heart rate. The simplest formula for maximum heart rate is 220 minute your age.

METs -- Moderate-intensity exercise means 3 to 5.9 METs. Examples of activities that increase your metabolic rate to this level include:

• Walking at 3 to 3.4 miles per hour
• Riding a stationary bike with light effort
• Riding an outdoor bicycle at 7 to 10 miles per hour

Labels: Circulation, Cross Post, Exercise, For the Body, Harvard Medical School, heart disease, Heart Rate, Howard LeWine, Leisure-Time Physical Activity, METs, moderate-intensity, Physical Activity, Staff

Last month, Jeanna Bryner, Managing Editor of LiveScience, published a list of 5 reasons why aging is awesome. It was so good we wanted to share it with you.

Intro
The saggy, wrinkly view of aging may have a much more positive, and real, conterpart: Getting older has its perks, lots of them, from needing less sleep to having better sex. Here's a look at why the crowded candles on your birthday cake, as you enter middle age and beyond, are just plain awesome. (photo credit: stock.xchng)


More Awake Time
That's right, more time to enjoy life. Seniors need about 1.5 hours less sleep on average than their younger counterparts, according to one study.

In another study of 110 healthy adults who were allowed eight hours of bed time, the oldest group (ages 66 to 83) snoozed about 20 minutes less than the middle-agers (ages 40-55), who in turn slept about 23 minutes less than the youngest group (ages 20 to 30). The simplest explanation for the fewer shut-eye minutes: Older adults need less sleep.

Another explanation, and one supported by research: Older adults just can't get the sleep they need, taking longer to nod off, spending less time in deep sleep, and having more trouble staying asleep. In fact, more than half of men and women over the age of 65 say they suffer from at least one sleep problem, with many experiencing insomnia, according to WebMD. (photo credit: © Rozenn Leard | Dreamstime.com)


Wearing Rose-Colored Glasses
Being happy may come down to attitude, studies have shown. That's great news for older adults, whose brains seem to be wired to remember the good times. A brain-scanning study published in 2010 in the journal Cortex revealed that older adults' rose-colored glasses may be linked to the way the brain processes emotional contents.

The researchers scanned the brains of participants — young adults (ages 19-31) and older adults (ages 61-80) — as they viewed a series of photographs with positive and negative connections between the brain regions that process emotions and those known to be important to the successful formation of memories, particularly when processing positive information. The same strong connections weren't found for the younger participants.

Aging adults don't just recall blissful moments of the past in vivid colors. It's also becoming apparent to researchers that being old could lend itself to optimism. In one recent study, both old and young participants where shown virtual faces portraying sadness, anger, fear and happiness. Eye-tracking technology revealed the older participants, ages 18 to 21, focused on fearful faces, while those ages 57 to 84 zeroed in on the happy faces, avoiding the angry ones. The researchers, who detailed their study in 2006 in the journal Psychology and Aging, think that as a person's life expectancy decreases, they might focus on what makes them feel good now rather than focusing on the negative. (photo credit: Dreamstime)


Being Grandparents
No diapers. No temper tantrums. No fevers and ear infections. Aging means you get to enjoy grandkids, as if they were your own, but without any of the frustrations. Pop-pop and G'ma can do no wrong in the eyes of grandkids. Research has suggested grandparents can increase the chances of a child surviving during the high-risk period of infancy and childhood in traditional societies. The same link may hold true in Western societies, according to David A. Coall of Edith Cowan University. "We felt if such an association existed in Western societies, where the fertility and childhood mortality rates are much lower, grandparents could make a substantial public health contribution to our society," Coall said in a statement.

And you're good at it, too. A study published in the November 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics, by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, showed that kids cared for by a grandmother were 50-percent less likely to get injured than children cared for by daycare workers, other relatives, or even the child's own mother. (photo credit: © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com)


More Wisdom
Like a fine wine, older adults have been aged to perfection it seems, at least when it comes to wisdom. As you age, you may have a tougher time tuning out irrelevant information, but this lack of focus can actually boost memory, according to research published in 2010 in the journal Psychological Science. More specifically, seniors have the unique ability to "hyper-bind" the irrelevant information, essentially tying it to other information that is appearing at the same time. This type of memory could help older adults with decision-making and problem-solving, the researchers suspect. For instance, if a manager wants to promote an employee, it might be helpful to recall not just that employee's work performance, but also his interaction with other employees. (photo credit: © Denis Raev | Dreamstime.com)


Rewarding Sex Life
Sex drive seems to stay strong as you age. One 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine surveyed adults ages 57 to 85, finding more than half of 75- to 85-year-olds reported a roll in the hay at least two to three times a month, and 23 percent reported having sex at least once a week. oral sex appeared to be less "ageless." nearly 60 percent of the participants under 65 years old said they had engaged in oral sex in the previous 12 months, compared with 31 percent for the over-75s. (photo credit: © Alexander Raths | Dreamstime.com)

What else do you think makes aging awesome? Leave a comment!

Labels: Aging, Cross Post, Elderly, For the Body, For the Mind, For the Spirit, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandparents, Healthy Aging, Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience, Optimism, Seniors, Sexuality, Sleep, Staff, Wisdom

By Nettie Freeman, 87
Los Angeles Jewish Home resident

Since becoming a resident of the Los Angeles Jewish Home in September 2009, I cannot innumerate the countless benefits of living in this fabulous facility. However, I must admit there is one phase of my past that I miss tremendously.

I was an excellent driver for over 55 years, with a commendable record. In fact, in most recent years when many of my friends had to give up driving, I was the “designated driver.” Driving on the freeway, driving at night, escorting my friends to countless doctor appointments, shopping trips—they were no challenge for me.

And then, lo and behold, my own driving abilities began to falter. Before I knew it I had to forsake my driver’s license and, alas, my life changed. The freedom of hopping in the car and running my errands at will was indeed a privilege. One doesn’t realize the extent of that freedom until you can no longer exercise it.

I promised myself that when that day came, I would be noble and accept it valiantly. But that is easier said than done. Often times I find myself in the “oh dear” mood, but fortunately I’ve overcome it quickly. I realize there are far worse compromises in life than not driving.

Talking to other residents here at the Jewish Home, we all have the same lament: “Oh, how I miss my driving!”

But we have all adjusted and take advantage of our volunteer drivers, city-ride, Access, taxis—yes, life goes on, even without a driver’s license.

Labels: Aging, Car, Driver, Driver's License, Driving, Freedom, Health, Independence, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Nettie Freeman, Residents, Seniors, Staff

Each year, the Los Angeles Jewish Home organizes a golf "marathon" fundraiser called the Longest Day of Golf. Participants golf as many holes as they can in an entire day, raising money for the Jewish Home's various life-enhancing programs along the way. This blog recounts the Longest Day of Golf 2011, held on July 11. Special thanks to El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, CA for allowing the Jewish Home to use its entire course without charge, and to Someone's in the Kitchen for donating the meals for our golfers!


By Jason Weiss

Well, I did it!

It took 12 grueling hours, ten bottles of water, six golf balls, four protein bars, three bottles of Gatorade, and a  partridge in a pear tree.

In total, it took me 463 strokes to get around El Caballero Country Club six times. That number was assisted by both Mother Nature deciding to take it easy on me, and a four-foot gimme radius for the first three rounds.

I present to you a running diary of thoughts, highlights, and achievements throughout the marathon. Note: all times are approximate.

5:35am: BEEP BEEP BEEP. As my alarm goes off, I can only think to quote Ron Burgundy in the movie Anchorman: "I immediately regret this decision."

6:37am: I start on the third hole (don't worry, I went back to finish the first two holes before lunch) with a monster tee shot down the left side of the fairway. I hit a wedge to the middle of the green and two putt for a par. One down, 107 to go. "Oy vey," I thought. After all, we are playing for the Los Angeles Jewish Home.

7:50am: It is every golfer's instinct to drive from the 18th green into the clubhouse, where an ice cold adult beverage is usually ripe to be consumed. Not only this day. An immediate right turn and back to the first tee. First round statistics: I shot 73 (remember the four foot gimme radius) with three birdies (No gimmes on birdie putts) and played one hour and twenty minutes.

9:20am: Round two is in the books. This was probably my least favorite round. The light at the end of the tunnel was too far in the distance, and the excitement of what I signed up for was in the rear view mirror. I made no birdies, shot a respectable 79, and was just happy to get it out of the way in 90 minutes. Thought for the second round: "I've just played 36 holes at El Cab in the time that it takes most members to play 12 holes. This is how El Cab should be played!"

9:40-9:55am: My best three-hold stretch of the day. On holes 39-41, I went birdie-birdie, birdie, including a 130 yard bunker shot to eight inches. I could hear my dad saying "I hate you" after the third tap in. I shot 75 in round three. Halfway home.

11:55am: Here's a question that I had never thought about before Monday: How many consecutive holes must one play in the same golf cart before the batter light turns on? Answer: I first noticed it on hole 60. At 63, I changed carts. Time for lunch.

12:00pm: Lunch. A turkey sandwich, fruit salad, pasta salad, chips, and a slice of apple pie were accompanied by a nice speech from Jewish Home CEO-President Molly Forrest. I don't really remember what she said. All I remember thinking was "Ahhhh, air conditioning."

1:05pm: I made a friend at lunch, and we decided to play our last two rounds together. His name was Jason as well, and was the second youngest participant, at 42. He was a really nice guy, but not such a great golfer. I tried to give him a bunker lesson. It didn't work. My lesson to him for the rest of the day: "Jason, when you hit in the bunker, just pick it up. We don't have time for you to hit four shots in each bunker." He agreed. Round four: 77.

2:40pm: Second wall. Hole 80. I don't know what you know about a golf swing, but a golf swing is more body than arms. The two have to work together for the ball to be hit far and straight. My arms and body are no longer working together. If my golf swing was Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston circa 2005 before lunch, it is most certainly Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston circa 2011 now. The honeymoon is over...this is no longer fun. Round five: a really surprising 78.

3:15pm: Hold 86. "Another $200 for the Jewish Home" was the mantra that Jason and I kept repeating after every hole as we played in the heat of the day. "Keep grinding."

4:15pm: As I stick my tee into the tee box on the first hole for the SIXTH and final time, I realize that I've made it. Ninety holes down. Only one more round to go. If my body wasn't shaking, I would've leaped for joy.

6:45pm: SHANK!

6:55pm: Victory! As my four foot par putt hit the bottom of the 18th hole, my day was over. I had done it. One hundred and eight holes of golf in one day. I raised my arms as best I could and triumphantly high fived my playing partner for the afternoon. Round six: 81. Four Hundred and Sixty Three total strokes.

As I type this with my bruised hands, while sitting on my sore rear end, which is still not as sore as my legs and feet, I am overcome with a sense of pride and humbled by the generosity of everyone who supported me throughout this challenge.

When I decided that I was going to raise money on behalf of the Home for this event, I would have never anticipated that I could raise over $10,000. I am truly touched by this feat.

I would like to thank you personally for all of your support. I look forward to playing in this event for years to come, and your support is greatly appreciated.

If you'd like to talk about this event, ask any other question about the event or the Home, please feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks again!!!

Labels: El Caballero Country Club, Fund Development, Fundraising, Golf, Jason Weiss, Jewish Home, Longest Day of Golf, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Marathon, Philanthropy, Putt, Seniors, Staff, Stroke, Swing