Here at Menorah Life we are enjoying all that summer has to offer! We are grateful to have entered a new phase with COVID that has enabled to us to bring back so many of the wonderful programs we lost during the height of the pandemic.

On July 11 we had a special visit from the children attending Camp Gan Israel – the premier Jewish day camp sponsored by the Chabad of Greater St. Petersburg. It was a thrill to have the children spend time with our participants at the Weissman Day Center and our residents at the Samson Nursing Center and Toby Weinman Residence. The campers came with their camp director, Rabbi Mendel Lebovics, and a team of devoted camp counselors who visited our seniors at both buildings on our campus.

The children helped us start to celebrate Shabbat early by singing a medley of Shabbat songs. I led some spirited Jewish songs with the group, told the story It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach, and introduced the group to my puppet Bongo the Monkey. At the end of the program, the children spent time talking and sharing with our seniors.

I would like to offer my thanks to Rabbi Mendel Lebovics, the counselors, and campers of Camp Gan Israel. Their presence brought so much joy to our seniors that day. We look forward to making this an annual tradition.

I hope you enjoy the last part of summer as we prepare for all of the Fall Jewish holidays.

Rabbi Aaron M. Lever, BCC
Director of Spiritual Care