Exercise Your Compassion Muscles

Give Children Opportunities to Practice Compassion; Work Those Muscles

By Nancy Ludin, Executive director of the Jewish Pavilion

According to Marilyn Price- Mitchell, Ph.D., compassion cannot be learned by talking about it. Children must practice compassion in their daily lives. “Inspiring a spirit of volunteering in elementary and middle school helps kids develop their compassionate muscles – muscles they will use over and over again as they reach adolescence and adulthood.” Developing compassion in elementary and middle school-aged children is akin to developing muscle strength. The more you use your muscles, the stronger they get.”  Price says that children can learn to feel connected to their communities and know they can make a difference in the world through acts of compassion.

The Jewish Pavilion is a non-profit that encourages people of all ages to interact with seniors who reside in independent, assisted and skilled nursing communities. For the past two years, they have received a grant from the Joseph and Frieda Ross Foundation for intergenerational programming. They have worked with  Congregation Ohev Shalom, Temple Israel, Beth Chaim  and Shir Shalom  inspiring and mobilizing children to develop their compassionate muscles. The Children from Congregation Ohev Shalom have had “extra practice” through visiting their elders on a monthly basis. Visit www.jewishpavilion.org and contribute to a compassionate world.
Pictured is Marc Homburger Jacobs interacting with a resident at Savannah Court. As a regular volunteer with the Pavilion, he and his mother, Eve Homburger, have been visiting our elders for years. Marc is very comfortable around older adults.

" A Walk in the Park" , FREE food & Entertainment

The entire community is invited…

Free  breakfast, The Orlando Jazz Band and other live entertainment, give-aways and prizes will be enjoyed at the Jewish Pavilion’s “A Walk in the Park” on Sunday, October 28th at 9:30 a.m. at Crane’s Roost Park in Altamonte Springs. The festivities will include  face painting, clowns, a health fair, 100 vendors, a walk around the park, t-shirt sales and more. Proceeds benefit the Jewish Pavilion. The Pavilion ensures that seniors in long term care are regularly visited and enjoy holiday celebrations, intergenerational programs, musicales, ice cream socials and more. Pavilion staff and volunteers visit over a thousand  seniors of all faiths in long- term care communities all over Orlando. While loneliness cannot be “cured,” Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers do everything possible to prevent it. Register at www.jewishpavilion.org.

Your Body Language ...Take a Stand

What does my posture and proximity convey? Why is eye contact so critical? How long should you make eye contact before making someone feels uncomfortable? The Jewish Pavilion is offering a workshop on Body Language on Monday June 4^th at 10:30 a.m. at Horizon Bay – 217 Boston Ave in Altamonte Springs. The workshop is free to the public and includes refreshments. Etiquette expert, Dana Fowler, will be leading the discussion. RSVP to wendylevine@jewishpavilion.org. or call 407-678-9363 for more information

Networking event at Bloomingdales on March 8th

Shop with us...Did you know that the biggest color for spring is “tangerine?”  Women of all faiths will learn about the latest colors, trends and styles at a fashion presentation on the runway at Bloomingdales at the Mall at Millennia on Thursday, March 8^th at 10:45 a.m. The event is being coordinated by  Nicole Biscuti, Public Relations Manager for Bloomingdales and Marcia Berman, a member of  the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion Board, along with her dear friend and colleague in fashion, Ilene Stone. Karen Selznick, a dedicated member of the Friends of the Jewish Paivlion will be recognized for her leadership at the event.

The couvert is $25 and includes a mimosa brunch and goody bag. The couture patron price is $50 per ticket. You can honor Karen by becoming a couture patron and get a front row seat for $50. Couture patrons will be entered into a drawing for a designer handbag.

Bloomingdales is donating  ten percent of all sales to the Jewish Pavilion. Funds will be used to provide Shabbat and holiday programs  to Jewish seniors and their friends in 50 independent, assisted and skilled nursing facilities. No one wants to be forgotten… it is the mission of the Jewish Pavilion to enhance the quality of life of our elders in long term care by strengthening their connection to the community.  Visit www.jewishpavilion.org or call 407-678-9363  to get more details about the fashion program and the organization.

"There Aren't A Lot of Jewish People Here."

There Aren’t A Lot of Jewish People Here…

“There aren’t a lot of Jewish people here” is a phrase I hear daily when I visit seniors in long term care. The average facility in South Orlando has less than a handful of Jewish residents. Therefore, residents are overjoyed to interact with Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers. At a recent Shabbat service, I was thanked over a dozen times by three older women. Together we shared a traditional Jewish meal in the beautiful, private dining room at Madison House. The Activities Director and chef joined us for the blessings and a wonderful conversation that started with the torah portion and ended with us chatting about our families. Traditional Jewish recipes and holiday celebrations were a major part of the conversation. While the Jewish Pavilion is “in the business” of bringing Jewish culture to residents in independent, assisted and skilled nursing, it is the personal attention that the residents enjoy most of all. When I left to return to work, Susan Mazlin, one of our wonderful volunteers, was escorting Evy, one of the residents to her room. I am confident that the two chatted for at least a half hour after I departed. Being a part of a Jewish community means far more than providing Jewish ritual. At the Jewish Pavilion, we provide compassionate companionship as well.

By Nancy Ludin, Executive Director Jewish Pavilion

Bonding is What We Are All About...

Bonding is what we are all about…

“Absolutely Anna”, a one woman show about memories, will be presented to Pearl  level givers of $500 or more to the Jewish Pavilion on Wednesday, January 25^th at 11 a.m. at Oakmonte Village.’ Why is it important for Pavilion supporters to get together? Because, being a part of the Jewish Pavilion  means that you care about our elders in the community and their quality of life. When women who “care” get together over brunch, the bonding is incredible. Many close friendships have formed as a result of their volunteer and philanthropic commitments. Having the event at Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary is extra special, because a Pavilion volunteer, Cathy Swerdlow, goes to Oakmonte bi- weekly to provide Shabbat services and bi-monthly to provide Jewish education. Jewish holidays are celebrated in style at Oakmonte Village. If you are looking for good friends, one of the best places to find them is through Jewish communal activity. Being involved with the Pavilion  will change your  life for the better.

Love... Jewish Pavilion Style

For many people,  it is hard to imagine celebrating Hanukkah for eight nights.  Our family gathers around the menorah for all eight nights, and we sing songs and play games until the candles burn down. The emphasis is on spending times together and enjoying the Hanukkah food, decor, music and candle lighting. For the Jewish Pavilion, Hanukkah lasts much longer... 18 days and nights. Our four Program Directors plan ten parties each, at different ends of town, and dozens of volunteers participate in the festivities. Musicians like Carol Stein, Nancy Waldman, Paul Stenzler and Penny D'Agostino perform at multiple nursing homes and residents of all faiths have the opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah with the Pavilion. Yesterday, I attended a Hanukkah party at Westminster Towers along with other volunteers, the Westminster staff, residents and their family members. Ella Colley, age 9 delivered a speech about the history of Hanukkah. She and her brother Ben age 6, decorated Hanukkah cookies for all. The most incredible aspect of the party for me was the number of times I heard the words "I love you." Flory Kahn and her volunteers continuously told one another how much they are loved, while the residents and volunteers did the same. If you are looking for love during the holiday season, you can certainly find it on a daily basis at the Jewish Pavilion.