Summer 2020/5780 PointeJewish Inspired. Welcoming toof All. View Heritage Pointe During Pandemic Page 4 Kids Celebrate Grandparents Page 8 From Survivor to Soldier: A Resident’s Story Page 12 Heritage Pointe Celebrates Four Centenarians This Year Younger Than Springtime Heritage Pointe Celebrates Four Centenarians This Year In 1920 the Great War had ended, women were guaranteed the right to vote, and the washing machine was a new-fangled invention. The stereo, Internet and smart phone had yet to arrive, but four Heritage Pointe Residents had made their first appearance. These centenarians celebrate their 100th birthdays this year, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them! Helen, a petite lady with short “Making latkes are so much Helen Goodman dark hair and a mischievous smile, easier!” she exclaims. The best has a few tips on the best ways to days of her long life have centered live to be 100. around events when her children “Have nice children,” she says. were honored, such as her son’s “Have nice families, and the rest is ordination as a rabbi many years easy.” Luckily, Helen was blessed ago. “My motto is to help your with an amazing family: Two children as much as you can,” she children, seven grandchildren, and proclaims. eight great-grandchildren. Helen’s family is living proof of Helen explains the two inventions her love. The great-grandchildren during her lifetime that impacted call Heritage Pointe “Camp Bubbe” her the most were the telephone because this is where their bubbe and the electric food processor. (and all the other bubbes) live. The world’s centenarian population is expected to grow eightfold by 2050, according to the Pew Research Center. where they met Heritage Pointe Morris Ossias Volunteer Coordinator, Loretta Morris was the first Heritage Modelevsky. And the rest is history! Pointe Resident to turn 100 in 2020! Morris says he could not have Morris and his lovely wife, Rita, accomplished anything without the moved into Heritage Pointe in 2012 encouragement and assistance of when Morris was age 92 and Rita his life partner and love, Rita. was 88. Originally from New York, To celebrate his milestone, Morris and Rita met after the war Morris headlined a virtual and were married in 1946. Morris concert on his birthday in attended optometry school on the May with Heritage Pointe’s GI Bill. Eventually, they settled in Executive Assistant Tami Newburgh, NY, where they raised Olsen on the keyboard. five children. He sang, told stories about After retiring the Ossaises began his life, and even danced a “snow birding” to Laguna Woods bit of soft shoe! 2 Hanni, who turned 99 in late because he was Jewish and the Hanni Kaplan December, is looking forward to rest of the family was next to be another year of family and friends. killed. The family immediately “After all,” she boasts with a twinkle grabbed their papers, left, and in her eye, “I’ve cheated death three booked passage on a ship bound times already.” for America. “And that is number Born in Berlin two months two!” Hanni counts. premature, she was not expected They could only book a cabin to live. Ignoring the doctors’ over the ship’s boiler room. During prognosis, her mother made sure the voyage, as the family was eating Hanni thrived. “So that’s number dinner elsewhere on board, the one!” says Hanni. boiler room suffered an explosion Her parents were successful and their cabin was destroyed. But German Jews and did not believe the family was unharmed, although that the rise of Nazis would hurt they disembarked with even less them, so they remained in Berlin— luggage than they started. until the day when Hanni’s father “And that,” exclaims Hanni, “is was told that he would be hung number three!” For couples who are both 65 today, there’s a 50% chance one member will live to be at least 92, according to the Society of Actuaries. stayed at school because there was Shirley Deutsch no food for them at home. A kind “The best time of your life is the teacher noticed their plight and one you’re living in.” That is sage began “accidentally” bringing advice from 100-year old Shirley, three sandwiches for lunch every who has seen it all. Her early years day to share. in New York City’s Lower East Her father contracted tuberculosis Side were hard. “It was the slums. and moved to the mountains of Except I have looked it up online Denver, Colorado, where he would on Google Earth…and it’s still the lie immobile for a year. The rest of slums!” she chuckles. the family followed later. Shirley She remembers meals cooked didn’t see much of her father by kerosene stove and what an throughout her high school years. improvement it was when they Among her accomplishments, finally got gas installed. To Shirley, Shirley was an amazing parent at Heritage the “best invention” of her lifetime herself. Proud mother of four sons, Pointe for was “having food on the table when she made sure that each child 11 years and you are hungry.” As a child, her became a strong, independent Jewish celebrated family was poor and often hungry. person. “Parents are very difficult her birthday While most youngsters went home to raise,” quips Shirley, understating in June. She for lunch during the school year, her role in the lives of her children continues to celebrate the Shirley and her younger brother and grandchildren. Shirley has lived “best time of her life” here! 3 Heritage Pointe During COVID-19 We’re Staying Apart Today so We Can Be Together Tomorrow Here is how Heritage Pointe has The strict measures are paying off managed this healthcare crisis: in terms of healthy Residents and Starting in March, Heritage a healthy staff! Mike Silverman, Pointe restricted visits from CEO of Heritage Pointe, credits volunteers, vendors, entertainers, Residents themselves as the catalyst and family members. Details about for success. the virus were still emerging, “Residents quickly complied but information coming from with the restrictions and have been the Centers for Disease Control appreciative of all of the ways we and local authorities urged keep them safe and healthy, “Mike caution and keeping everyone says with a smile. “They certainly apart until they knew more. miss their families, their visitors, As state and local authorities and all of the other activities that issued more strict guidelines, the everyone all over the country Living alone during the communal Dining Room was has been missing, too! But they COVID-19 crisis has been hard closed. Instead, Residents began to understand that staying apart from for everyone---but especially receive room-service style custom their loved ones now is how they will for seniors who are most at risk. meals delivered directly to their stay healthy throughout this crisis.” Thankfully, every Resident at apartments. Residents also have No one knows what the “new Heritage Pointe has been both their temperatures taken twice daily normal” will look like this summer safe and supported during these and recorded for signs of change. or beyond. Whatever it is, Heritage challenging times. Staff members were immediately Pointe Residents and their families This crisis demonstrates the required to wear masks and will have the peace of mind that value of living in a community that those who interacted directly comes from knowing that they are supports an independent lifestyle with Residents wore additional not alone. We will face it together. combined with individual care and safety equipment. support. Heritage Pointe next Residents at Heritage Pointe, began to take the the only Jewish assisted living and temperatures of every memory care facility in Orange staff member entering County, are living a much easier the building and and better life because they made checked everyone for the decision to move into the COVID symptoms community. during every shift. Outside deliveries The support system for Residents have been screened remains intact. Residents enjoy and sanitized before delicious kosher meals cooked for being carried through them, healthcare checks in their the hallways to a home twice daily, and plenty of Resident’s home. friends and safe activities every day. 44 The Writing on Our Walls Heritage Pointe is proud to Heritage Pointe reinforces our Mike Silverman, CEO of Heritage display new artwork in different commitment to practicing these Pointe, is excited about the next wings and on different floors of the values: stage of using the artwork to reach campus. Beautiful letters spell out • Practice Kindness out to the community. “I’d love to Jewish values in Hebrew, and each do walking tours of the campus includes an English definition and • Show Compassion with Jewish students,” he says. “I explanation of why that particular • Show Respect for our Elders, and will be showing them our values as Jewish value is important to our we show them our home.” • Preform Acts of Kindness. community. To learn how you and your family can sponsor a wall of Jewish values, contact Beth Slavin, Director or Philanthropy at (949) 276-6232. 5 Leo Pinsky Endowed Dr. Gordon & Hannareta Fishman Roslyn & Bernard (z”l) Porter Diamond Donor Members Aviva & Fredric Forster Roslyn Portnoy Anonymous Bonnie & Sherwin (z”l) Gillman Joan & Bernard Rome Nancy & Irving Chase Dr. Arthur & Rhoda Friedman (z”l) Winnie & Sheldon Ross Said Cohen Foundation Jeanette & Roger Glazer Joan & Fredric Rubel Sandy & Allan (z”l) Fainbarg Thea Glicksman Myra Rubin Steven Fainbarg Miriam & Larry Goldberg Dr. Charles & Muffy Rudner Roberta Feuerstein Sharlene & Lawrence Goodman Dr. David & Renee Sacks Bonnie & Brion Jeannette Eleanor & Michael Gordon Joan & Chalky Samson Nancy & Leonard Joseph Dr.