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October 29, 2004/Cheshvan 14 5765, Vol. 57, No. 9
Search continues for senior center site
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
Seniors at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center Senior Center are waiting for news of the center's future.
On Aug. 31, the JCC announced that the center must vacate its leased facility in central Phoenix on Oct. 6 and would not reopen elsewhere. Following an outcry by seniors and community members, the JCC released a press release on Sept. 2 stating that the City of Phoenix extended the notice at least through the end of the year.
That's the last the seniors have heard about it, according to Temi Cummings, a regular at the center. "We're still hopeful that somebody will come up with something," she said. But the seniors are "still very, very worried."
With the deadline looming, the JCC is still searching for a new location, said Mark Shore, JCC president. "We're really doing our best to do something," he said.
The senior center, at 1805 W. Montebello Ave., serves an average of 40-45 onsite hot kosher meals each weekday and delivers about 45 hot kosher meals to homebound individuals. Until a new location is finalized, the Area Agency on Aging has put a hold on accepting new JCC home-delivered clients, said Todd Gray, program specialist for the agency. "We didn't want to take on any new clients and then not be able to serve them," he said.
However, new people coming into the system are being referred to other City of Phoenix senior centers.
The JCC senior center also offers social, educational, exercise and Shabbat programs; holiday cele-brations and an inter-generational program with JCC Preschool children.
"It's more than just a room, it's more than just a kitchen," Shore said. "We have to establish an ambiance and an environment which is conducive to the social component of the program."
The JCC is working with several organizations to try to find a solution, Shore said, including the Jewish Fed-eration of Greater Phoenix, the Area Agency on Aging, the United Way and the City of Phoenix.
Jewish Family & Children's Service provides counseling to center users.
Adam Schwartz, federation executive vice president, said finding a solution is at the "top of the priority list."
"We're making sure we can lift all the obstacles and overcome them all," he said. "It is really important to us and my hope is that the community knows that ... We are paying serious attention to this and we want to work out a resolution."
One option the JCC is considering is moving to Beth El Congregation, a Conser-vative congregation at 1118 W. Glendale Ave. in Phoenix, which is less than five miles from the Montebello location.
"We would love to house the senior center in our facility," said David Rosenbaum, Beth El president. "We want to be as flexible and accom-modating as possible to make sure that the senior center can survive in North Central Phoenix. We can adjust our programming and space requirements to make sure they have a home."
Many of the seniors participating in the program "are the people who helped found this community and were among those who supported the institutions in this community," said Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky, spiritual leader of Beth El Con-gregation. "They simply cannot (and) should not be forgotten."
Lavinsky cited a passage of Jewish liturgy recited during High Holiday services: "Do not cast me off in old age when my strength fails me, do not forsake me" (Psalm 71.9).
"I dare say that these people right now feel pretty cast off," Lavinsky said. "It's our job to let them know that they're still very precious to us."
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