Jewish Family Service is pleased to announce a generous gift by Edward S. Finkelstein in support of the Kosher Meals on Wheels program, which will infuse KMOW with funds on an annual basis.   In recognition of Mr. Finkelstein’s generosity, as well as a previous gift by Edward Cohen, the program is being renamed as the Finkelstein-Cohen Kosher Meals on Wheels Program.

“No one would ever say that someone with a broken arm or a broken leg is less than a whole person, but people say that or imply that all the time about people with mental illness.” Elyn R. Saks

After a long winter and chilly spring of staying indoors and hibernating, it’s time to get your body moving.  As we age, our bodies can get de-conditioned very easily and quickly, which can exacerbate health conditions and make us more prone to injuries.  Physical issues aside, our mental health can benefit greatly from exercising either alone or with others.

“Throughout my adult life, I knew what Marvin’s end-of-life wishes were.  He was passionate about life and wanted all measures taken to keep him alive.  When appointing a health care proxy, he was reluctant to let me fulfill that role.  I assured my uncle that I would respect his wishes even though my own philosophy on palliative care was quite different. “

In recent years, advancements in hospice and palliative care have given new meaning to the importance of end-of-life conversations.  Due to the Jewish imperative on “Choosing Life,” we, as observant Jews, sometimes jump to the conclusion that hospice and palliative care can never be reconciled with halachic (Jewish legal) mandates.  And yet, it is not so black and white.