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December 8, 2000/Kislev 11, 5761, Vol. 53, No.11
Kosher facility opens
LEISAH NAMM
Staff Writer
Benley Manor, a kosher retirement community in Glendale, opened its doors to its first three residents Dec. 4.
The newcomers were greeted by members of the administrative, caregiver, housekeeping, kitchen and nursing staffs and presented with welcome bags filled with activity and menu schedules, fruit, Hanukkah candles and other items.
The residents also received a tour of the facility and dedicated their new residence by affixing mezuzot, activity director Mona Gower said.
The residents are Joseph Rothenstein, who moved to the Valley from Brooklyn, N.Y.; Rea Altman from Lake Tahoe, Calif.; and Paul Rubenstein, who formerly lived at Kivel Campus of Care in Phoenix.
"For me, it was a little bit emotional to see a two-year dream actually come to fruition as the first residents walked through the front door," said Rabbi Alan Bright, a partner in the project.
The facility has 112 beds, 50 of which are expected to be filled by March.
Benley Manor, a 35,000-square-foot facility on 5.3 acres, offers independent living and assisted living care. Residents can choose from a selection of apartments, king-size rooms and regular rooms, in private and semi-private accommodations.
The Jerusalem Room, a glatt-kosher restaurant on the premises, opens to the public in January, according to Dr. Mark Magier, executive director. The restaurant already sold take-out Thanksgiving meals and will prepare carryout packages for New Year’s Eve dinner, New Year’s Day brunch and Passover seder meals.
The restaurant is under the supervision of Greater Phoenix Va’ad Hakashruth and is awaiting additional kosher certification under the Orthodox Union, Bright said.
Religious observances and services are under the auspices of Rabbi Zalman Levertov of Arizona Chabad-Lubavitch. Chabad of Glendale, which has been operating since September on the grounds of the facility, currently provides Shabbat evening and morning synagogue services.
Joint activities with seniors from the Jewish Community Center/ Valley of the Sun seniors’ center in Phoenix are planned.
The Gift Shop at Benley Manor, an extension of The Cornerstore Book & Gift Shop, is stocking Hanukkah merchandise. Store hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays through Fridays.
Benley Manor will hold a Hanukkah fair 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, open to the community. The fair will include a Middle Eastern food court, continuous videos for kids, clowns, entertainers, Israeli dancers, live dancing and crafts.
Bright is the spiritual leader at Beth Emeth Congregation of the Northwest Valley in Sun City West. Magier is a psychologist who came to Arizona from Florida with experience in rehabilitation and nursing homes.
The property, owned by Benley Manor, LLC, is an assisted living facility licensed by the Assisted Living Licensure office, a division of the State of Arizona Department of Health Services. Bright identified his business partner in the facility as Siva Selvaratnam of Sri Lanka.
Benley Manor is at 5330 W. Union Hills Drive. For more information, call 623-879-0959.
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