JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION OF METROPOLITAIN NEW JERSEY. B nai B rith Banner JANUARY 2017

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1 Reviving the Lost Art of Social Manners by Meta J. Mereday Page 1 Many of us were taught the adage, Kindness will take you where money cannot, and it represented an era that kept social manners in the forefront. These social manners included saying thank you by sending a card that was handwritten and expressive and not a short, impersonal tweet. Today, there exists a dying art of exchanging pleasantries and having real conversations that involve looking into each others eyes and making full sentences. In this current era of smart phones and texting, we are losing more of the social manners that put the civil in the civilization in which we live and work. Heads are so deeply buried in hand-held appliances that we are rapidly robbing families of bonding experiences, and even the Are we there yet? statements from restless children riding in the back seat of the car during family trips. Parents invest highly in transportation that provides onboard entertainment that keeps the children distracted as the world and all of its beauty passes by without reflection or discussion. The light-hearted exchanges that provided the cornerstones for social manners begin in the home. From being taught how to use the utensils at a table to discussing current events are fundamentals that young people need now more than ever to enhance their personal interactions in the future. There are those who want to return to a focus on social manners and highlight the importance beyond knowing which fork to use. There is a blog entitled, It Manners A Lot that was started by Lisa Kimble, a writer, who wanted to show that social manners can help to promote confidence in young people. Many believe that social manners can spur a resurgence in courteous and civilized behavior that we have been lacking. Some are teaching young people a wide range of practices that introduce the elements of social etiquette and provide a solid foundation in public speaking and proper conduct at special events. Making conversation and speaking in whole sentences instead of cyber-speak is becoming the new reality as new leaders are preparing to take the reins of established businesses with no clue about the how to s (con t on pg. 2)

2 (Con t from page 1) JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION OF METROPOLITAIN NEW JERSEY in social manners. It may not seem important, but how one cuts their meat can be as important as cutting the deal itself in this global business environment. If business leaders are unaware of the social manners on the domestic front, they are even more ignorant of the many international customs that can open doors or start wars. Business leaders are stepping up to bring an old school format to this problem through The Founders Inclusion Group (TFIG), which is an ad hoc group of organizational management professionals who know how deals are made. Whether it is in the boardroom or the golf course, a business arrangement is based on relationships and comfort levels, states Randye Bullock, a PR Specialist and Co-Founder of TFIG. I have seen too many instances where our emerging leaders are not up to speed on the basics to help get them noticed and respected in the C-Suites. Bullock has served on national boards and worked closely with elected officials and knows how executives operate. Many times, these same folks wonder why they don't receive the respect that they feel they are entitled to. Social respect is not an entitlement, but is earned." The Founders Inclusion Group will bridge the gap to bringing social manners into the technology age and return society to improved conversations, renewed courtesies and a stronger sense of community. Published at: Page 2

3 IS IT A COLD OR THE FLU? In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. If you suspect that you have more than a cold, see your doctor. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! Birthday Wishes 01/25 Yefim Teperman 01/28 Nataliya Kalika 01/30 Joyce Roberts Page 3

4 Page 4 A note from the co-president of the Tenants Association Have you noticed the days are getting a little longer even though we are in the midst of winter? From the date of the winter solstice Dec. 21st when winter began, the hours of light are a minute longer each day. It may not seem like much but little by little we are heading toward springtime! At the first suggestion of the January thaw we can go to the supermarket and, if we haven t already, stock up on a few essential supplies: nonperishable foods, juices, boxed soups, medicine, shampoo, tissues and other toiletries, dish and laundry detergents, quarters and postage stamps. It s a good time to check your supply of vitamin D because it can help to keep you from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, from less sunlight during the dark days of winter. Remember to turn on your lights too, to give yourself a cheerful atmosphere at home! The short, gray days of winter are a great time to get out the puzzles and thanks to Carolyn we have a lot of them:; a good time, too, for Rummy-O and Scrabble. There will be a plethora of good movies on TV, some old, some new, and as well, our library is stocked with many interesting books and two computers. There is no substitute for reading a good, well-written story. When we read there are advantages that may not be apparent at first: we can savor the descriptions in our minds from the author s words; we picture in our imagination the scenes as only we can know them; we can reread a passage if we want to, and of course we can also learn new words now and then and look them up in our dictionary. Every new word we learn is like opening our mind to new territory; a new idea or concept gives us an aha! moment, a new insight, and adds to enjoyment of life. Those of us who have iphones can send photos and messages to our family and friends; those of us who do not, can indulge in the not-too-ancient sport of letter writing! It is still a special treat to receive a letter or an or package. Keep in touch with loved ones. We can be like the farmers who pore over their seed catalogs in anticipation of spring. Snow can be beautiful and make the world look like a fairyland and eventually, it melts! Make good use of the Community Room and plan for spring! Lavinia A. Walker, co-president

5 JANUARY HAPPENINGS January 2 OFFICE IS CLOSED HAPPY NEW YEAR January 3 ShopRite Games all day January 4 Essex Green Exercise Movie Night January 5 Trader Joe s Residents Association New Year Celebration Brunch Bingo January 6 Rabbi Glicksman Trivia January 9 Stop & Shop (changed from Tues. to Mon.) Life Long Learning Luncheon Current Events January 10 Rt 10 shopping St. Barnabas presentation Bingo January 11 Montclair Art Museum Exercise Movie January 12 IHOP for lunch and Menlo Park Mall Paint-a-Picture Bingo January 13 Rabbi Glicksman Trivia January 16 OFFICE IS CLOSED (MLK day) January 17 ShopRite Games all day Bingo January 18 Walmart in Kearny Exercise Movie January 19 Red Lobster on Rt. 46 Paint-a-Picture Bingo January 20 Rabbi Glicksman Trivia January 23 Rt. 22 shopping including Christmas Tree Shop Current Events January 24 Stop & Shop Games all day Bingo January 25 Kean University Art Gallery Exercise Movie January 26 Paramus Park Mall Paint-a-Picture Bingo January 27 Rabbi Glicksman January 30 Willowbrook Mall Current Events Bingo January 31 ShopRite Games all day Bingo Resident Service B nai B rith Page 5 Rabbi Glicksman every 11:30 Kathleen Silver, Social Worker is here on Tuesdays, all day, make an appointment with (before Tuesday) and she will be here every other Friday. Our Congregate program is available on a sliding scale based on income. We have two aides who do light housekeeping, laundry, friendly visits etc. Speak to Bryna if you are interested. Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 9-5, Friday 9-4

6 Strollers entertain Seniors A very fitting holiday gift from the Strollers Community Theatre found grateful seniors flocking to the Jewish Federation Plaza in West Orange on the evening of Wednesday, December 21st. Seniors from B nai B rith Federation House and Village Apartments in South Orange, NJ, as well as many from Jewish Federation Plaza, filled every seat in their Community Room. It was a rare treat to be entertained by seven of the Strollers performers and their piano accompanist, in person. Four women and three men singers brought some well -loved favorites by Irving Berlin and Cole Porter to life. Solos, duets, quartets with some fancy footwork too, had us smiling to I Love Paris; The Way You Look Tonight, So In Love, among many other favorites including the whimsical Brush Up On Your Shakespeare! The performers invited the audience to join them and we couldn t resist singing along to Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match; If I Were a Rich Man and Sunrise, Sunset. As they wound up, all seven performers sang together. This was a well-rounded holiday treat with the old Christmas favorite Fa-la-la and Rudolph thered-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Baby It s Cold Outside and Jingle Bells! Of course we all sang Hava Nagila together and Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot! For all the seniors who enjoyed this treat by the Strollers, we say Thank you! It was a bright spot that lit up our holidays! Lavinia A. Walker Strollers Page 6

7 Greetings from Bryna JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION OF METROPOLITAIN NEW JERSEY Happy New Year!! I hope that you will be joining us for our New Year s Day party on Thursday, January 5 th at 11am. It s a nice way to ring in the New Year surrounded by friends and enjoying brunch catered by Mitchell Goldberg, Director of Dining Services at JCHC. Thanks to Rabbi Glicksman for helping us celebrate Hanukkah on December 30th. Everyone enjoyed latkes, jelly donuts and gelt. Rabbi Glicksman is here every Friday morning at 11:30 for Shabbat and a lively discussion. On Monday, January 16, we will have a video to celebrate Martin Luther King s birthday. We will also have snacks. Please come to the community room to celebrate the life of a true American hero. Again, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Our door is always open or you can call me at Bryna Rabbi Glicksman had a combination Shabbat service and Hanukkah celebration. We had homemade potato latkes and very plump and delicious jelly donuts on Friday, December 30th. Page 7

8 HAPPY NEW YEAR PUZZLE APPETIZERS BABIES BALLOONA BANNERS BUFFET CELEBRATE CHAMPAGNE CONFETTI DANCE DAY ONE DECORATIONS END OF DECEMBER EVENTS FAMILY FATHER TIME FEAST FESTIVITIES FIREWORKS FIRST OF JANUARY FRIENDS HATS HOLIDAY HORNS KISS MIDNIGHT MUSIC NEW YEARS DAY NEW YEARS EVE NOISEMAKERS OCCASION PARADES PARTY PUNCH RESOLUTIONS SINGING STREAMERS THIRTY FIRST TIARAS WINE YEAR IN RE- VIEW Page 8