High Holiday Service for Metro Detroiters with Dementia Celebrates 10th Year of Providing Joy and Spirituality on Sept. 20, 2026!

Photo courtesy of the Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program

The Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program will be holdings its annual dementia-friendly service to celebrate the High Holidays in West Bloomfield on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the award-winning program which is held in person at the Fleischman Residence chapel (6710 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield).

All attending families will get a keepsake honey dish to take home and there will also be a kiddish with honey cake and drinks.

 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.

“It is very meaningful for those living with dementia and their families to experience an important Jewish tradition together, high holiday services. Whether it is a familiar prayer or a beautiful melody that invokes memories, we know it is enjoyable and are proud that we have now been offering the program to our community for ten years,” said Director of the Brown Program Debi Banooni.

She said that holding the Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre service in the Fleishman Residence allowed more people, including their families, to access the program easily.

“We try to reduce barriers to attendance, making it as uncomplicated as possible,” added Banooni. “We also know that people living with dementia may not be able to attend a long traditional service, so we keep ours to just one hour, and if participants are in a wheelchair there is no issue as the rows are arranged spaciously.”

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. The cantor 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. To register for the service email Tracey Proghovnick at tproghovnick@jslmi.org or call 248.592.5048. 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/.