Michiganders with Dementia Offered a Special High Holiday Service to Celebrate the Jewish New Year on Sept. 28

This Event Has Ended. 

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (Sept 10, 2025) –The Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program will be holding its award-winning, dementia-friendly service to celebrate the High Holidays at the Fleischman Residence chapel (6710 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield) on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. This is the 9th year that the Brown Center will host the Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Service which lasts just one hour, and which has many accommodations being made to ensure the experience is both enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. The service, also available on Zoom for those unable to travel, is free and open to the community and there will be valet parking. After the service there will be a kiddish with honey cake and there will also be a give-away bag with apples, honey and a small gift. The Brown Center is a joint initiative of Gesher Human Services and Jewish Senior Life and provides innovative and engaging activities and care for those living with dementia along with support for their families at its two centers in Southfield and West Bloomfield. Jewish Senior Life also operates the Edward I. & Freda Fleischman Residence. To register for the program visit www.brownadultday.org/highholiday2025. For images of last year’s dementia-friendly High Holiday service click here.

“Our service offers a meaningful High Holiday experience for families and their loved ones living with dementia,” explained Director of the Brown Center, Debi Banooni. “Prayers are shortened but we include familiar melodies to help trigger memories for participants. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families who want to share the holidays but for whom a traditional service would not be possible, and we are seeing some families come back every year although we happily welcome new participants too.”

Banooni said that the service is also suitable for adults who have physical restrictions,

which would make a traditional longer service uncomfortable. “We ensure that rows are arranged with easy access to the bathrooms and there is plenty of room for navigating wheelchairs too,” she said. “And for those who are unable to travel, or who live outside of the metro Detroit area, we are offering the service on Zoom.”

Cantor Pamela Schiffer, who is Cantor Emerita of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, in East Lansing, will conduct the service as she has done in past years;  she is adept at modifying the service depending on the response of participants

The High Holiday service is made possible through a generous gift from the Dee dee and Michael Perlman Caregivers Fund housed at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. For more information on the Brown Program, visit brownadultday.org.

About Gesher Human Services

Gesher Human Services is a non-profit organization providing a bridge to hope and opportunity for people at work, at home, and in the community. It is dedicated to helping people across metro Detroit lead more stable and fulfilling lives through workforce development, career mobility, behavioral health, inclusion programming, and residential services that serve all metro Detroiters while meeting the needs of the Jewish community. The organization works with job seekers, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and the broader community to provide the skills, support, and equitable opportunities necessary for people to succeed. Gesher draws on over 110 years of combined experience to facilitate equitable employment opportunities and enhance mental health outcomes for Metro Detroiters. With a network of almost 500 employees and volunteers across more than 25 locations in southeast Michigan, Gesher delivers a continuum of services and support that directly impacts the lives of nearly 34,000 individuals and families annually. More information at www.geshermi.org.

About Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit

Founded in 1907, Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit (JSL) provides six inclusive residential communities with a continuum of care on two campuses in West Bloomfield and Oak Park, Michigan. JSL enhances the lives of older adults, embraces Jewish values, nurtures a sense of community, and celebrates life through innovative enrichment programs and services that support the social, physical, cultural, and spiritual wellness of all participants. JSL is a nonprofit organization that welcomes people of all beliefs and faiths. Visit https://jslmi.org/.