The Golden Years. A unique period of life where memories of decades merge to create a tapestry of each person’s individual values, aspirations and accomplishments. The time of life when each person answers his lifelong question:Who am I? At Ezer Mizion, we consider it our responsibility to validate each person’s self-image.
When 98 year old David Melikin asked us to find someone his age who had also fought in the Israeli war so the two of them could share war stories, we got right to work. It was not long before Mr. Melikin, wearing his countless medals, sat down with his counterpart to relive the past.
Ella Gultzman, who has always reveled in the nifloes ha’Boreh (G-d’s miracles of nature), was treated, together with her grandson, to a trip to the National Park in Ashkelon to spend hours surrounded by the sea and the trees.
Rosa Schosterman, who was a partisan in Belarus, asked to celebrate her birthday with Russian music. And so the flavor of her youth in Russia reverberated throughout her party in Israel.
The members of the social club in Bnei Brak visited the home of the godol (Great leader) whose name was spoken of in awe in all of their childhood homes: “Chazon L’dorot Center” The Center presents the biography, heritage, and doctrine of the Chazon Ish – in his own home. The Club staff worked hard to adapt the visit to the special needs of the elderly women, while providing creative solutions to enable them to enjoy the trip with maximum comfort, considering limitations due to their advanced age. For the participants, some of whom actually merited knowing the Chazon Ish in his lifetime, the visit was an especially thrilling experience.
For our younger seniors, the best gift is the opportunity to be a giver – a win-win situation.
“I went to retirement, and I was looking for what to do with the time that I had available. Exactly then my friend, who volunteered in the cafeteria of Ezer Mizion, broke her leg and asked me to fill in her place. I agreed, and I haven’t left since. For me volunteering, it’s much more than coffee: my husband had leukemia, and received a bone marrow transplant through Ezer Mzion. So when I volunteer-I feel like I’m giving back what we received.
Volunteering has brought with it quite a few moments that were heart-wrenching, I remember a patient that I had not seen for a while, and then I met his wife in intensive care and she told me that he was in a difficult situation, I was very worried. When he returned to the department with a smile of victory on his face – it was a moment I won’t forget.
And with G-d’s help my husband’s transplant was successful, and he feels good. We’ve even met the donor – a religious Yeshiva student and since then we’ve been in touch with his family.
Our only joke is that since my husband got his bone marrow, his blood type has changed and the mosquitoes just won’t leave him alone…
I truly believe that when you do good – you receive good, and sometimes all you need is real coffee, an open heart and a smile. “
The Golden Years. A unique period of life where memories of decades merge to create an individualized tapestry The time of life when each person answers his lifelong question:Who am I? They provide the picture and Ezer Mizion colors it in.
