Dear Mr. Seminaro,
With the beginning of 2013, I realized I have not adequately thanked you for all you are doing for Joel Thaler. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel. The staff are remarkable in how they understood his brain injury and the patience and compassion they show when interacting with my husband. From the kitchen staff who have to deal with his new dietary quirks, the physio department, recreation department, housekeeping, maintenance, medical staff, and the 5th floor staff who all go beyond the call of duty in their care and diligence. Everyone who is not even involved in his care is friendly and helpful. I commend you for leading such a fabulous group of people.
Although I don't like to mention one particular person, I must mention Rabbi Pearlman. He is the glue that has held everything together for us. Besides the fact that he seems to know all the staff and residents so well, his caring, thoughtful, devoted manner has connected everything for us. His enthusiasm for his work is infectious. I happened to sit in on several of his classes. I watched as he went to each person at Succoth to make sure they all held the lulav and etrog. He never discriminated between those who were completely unaware and those who understood. All were treated with the same respect.
At Chanukah time, he gave a small lecture each night before the candles were lit. He made sure he mentioned each person and included everyone. He even had his son bring a keyboard one night as he knew one resident is very musical and he was trying to stimulate her. He didn't speak down to anyone, but treated each person as an intelligent, functioning person.
I also sat in on one of his weekly classes. I would have given up had I been teaching. He actually drew out a lot of people which shocked me as to how they responded to him. The most amazing thing is that my husband, who gets so confused and mixed up, looks forward to his weekly classes. In the class I attended, he asked my husband a question to which my husband correctly responded. I was shocked! It seems that this was a continuation from the previous week, and my husband had actually retained what Rabbi Pearlman had taught.
When I have had questions about staff, procedures and general things, I find I can go to the Rabbi and he seems to know all the staff and can answer my questions. It is a great comfort to know there is one person to connect everything for me.
Again, I would like to that you for all you are doing for my husband. Happy New Year!
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic representing District 25 paid a visit to the Margaret Tietz Center on April 9th, 2013 and was extremely impressed by what she observed.
A poignant Holocaust Memorial Service was held on Yom Hashoah at Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with a large group in attendance. The program was opened by Joseph Seminaro, Executive Director of Margaret Tietz, and chaired by Rabbi Zavel Pearlman, Rabbi at Margaret Tietz, with the Kaddish recited by Dr. Arthur Flug, Executive Director of Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives at Queensborough Community College. Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky, Rabbi of Chabad of Northeast Queens, moved the crowd with his heartfelt rendition of Kel Maley Rachamim and Ani Maamin, and everyone joined in to sing Hatikva.
Following emotional addresses delivered by Rabbi Pearlman, Rabbi Blesofsky and Dr. Flug, six memorial candles were lit in formation. The first was lit jointly by three survivors currently at Margaret Tietz for a rehab stay, in memory of the helpless infants, children, and teenagers who perished before they had a chance to grow up and fulfill their potential. The second candle was kindled by Dr. Flug in memory of all those Mothers who died with their young ones in their arms. Trudy Schwarz, a Margaret Tietz Board Member, and Senta Baum, a Margaret Tietz volunteer, lit the third candle together – in memory of the many Parents who were separated from their beloved families. The fourth candle was lit by Rabbi Blesofsky to commemorate all the Rabbis, Scholars and Teachers who were the first to be seized by the Nazis. CenterLight Board Member Robert Levine kindled the fifth candle in memory of the Heroes of the Resistance, and the last flame was lit in memory of the Martyrs and Righteous Gentiles by Joseph Seminaro, Executive Director of Margaret Tietz.
It was a morning imbued with dignity and meaning, as tribute was paid to the six million beautiful lives that were lost.
All the Purim hullabaloo and merriment out in the streets of Queens did not circumvent Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in the least. As anyone with a loved one there can attest, the festive and joyous Purim spirit permeated the entire facility – from Rabbi Pearlman’s evening and morning megillah laining to the costumed visitors parading the halls to the various family seudos that took place at Margaret Tietz. Music reverberated throughout the building as family and friends trooped through to deliver mishloach manos to their loved ones, bringing smiles to everyone’s face.
On Shushan Purim, Margaret Tietz participated in parties for neighborhood seniors at the Young Israel of Forest HIlls and Queens Valley Senior Leagues and treated everyone to delightful mishloach manos packages. Rebbetzin Lonni Oppenheim was on hand to provide inspiration with her meaningful words about the Holiday’s background.
Kudos to the Shevach High School volunteers and York College intern who helped pack mishloach manos at Margaret Tietz prior to Purim.
At the recent opening of TD Bank’s new branch in Kew Gardens Hills, Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was selected by TD Bank as the worthy recipient of a $500 donation. Margaret Tietz – a member of CenterLight Health System – was proud to be chosen as a“Superior Not-for-Profit Facility” by TD BANK and was presented with a check by TD Branch President Bernie Dolington at the Gala Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held on Sunday, February 10th.
Distinguished Rabbis, Doctors, Legislators & Leaders of the local Bukharian community came together at Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday evening, February 6, 2013 to learn how the facility is well-equipped to meet the physical and spiritual needs of their seniors. At the well-attended dinner event, the guests wereintroduced to the extensive Short-Term Rehabilitation program in place at Margaret Tietz. The program included a presentation by the Director of the Rehabilitation Department, which was translated by one of CenterLight’s key Russian speaking employees, followed by an address by Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov in which he highly endorsed Margaret Tietz– recommending that the Bukharian community take full advantage of this special community resource.
All in attendance left Margaret Tietz with an extremely favorable impression, glad the facility had reached out to their community. Yaniv Meirov, Cynthia Zalisky of the Queens Jewish Community Council, Lana Bind, Rabbi Nahum Kaziev, Rabbi Avner Arshadnia, and Svetlana Levitin received a special thank you from the Margaret Tietz Administration for their contribution to the success of the event. Additional thank yous were expressed to Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, Rabbi Avroham Lider, Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz, andBarry Grodenchik representing Borough President Helen Marshall's office, for their participation, kind words and continued support of the Margaret Tietz Center.
