Home

NEW: "Holocaust Survivors in New York – Today Through 2025"

Eye-opening information including trends, needs and demographics about New York's Holocaust survivors, from Selfhelp.

Read Holocaust Survivors in New York Today through 2025

_______________________________________

Defiant Requiem Earns Thanks All Round

It’s unusual for benefactors to be as effusive in thanks as are the recipients of fund-raiser proceeds. But thanks abound for New York City’s debut of Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín, the mesmerizing concert drama performed as a re-creation of the Verdi Requiem originally sung by prisoners of the Nazis at Terezín concentration camp decades ago. Whether you were part of the group of 200 Holocaust survivors invited as guests, a major donor, one of the event underwriters, one of the thousands in the audience, a member of the exceptional choir and orchestra, or even one of the lucky ones who somehow managed to garner a cancellation ticket to the sold out concert at the last minute – this was an event that managed to touch the hearts of all in one special way or another.

Maestro Murry Sidlin leads solo quartet and orchestra during an impassioned performance of Defiant Requiem at Lincoln Center.

This event was truly a unique experience. The chorus and orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Murry Sidlin, stirred emotions while unfolding the compelling story through music, lyrics and spoken word. Stark concentration camp footage stunned the audience. The overall performance created an arc of emotions ranging from sorrow and anguish to hope and elation.

A chorus of 136 members and orchestra unite to perform the story of Terezin, as directed by Maestro Murry Sidlin, at Lincoln Center in New York City.

A collaboration among UJA-Federation, the Defiant Requiem Foundation and Selfhelp Community Services, the evening’s amazing concert-drama resulted in a commitment of more than $2.3 million from donors to expand services to New York City’s survivors via UJA-Federation of New York’s Community Initiative for Holocaust Survivors. And the very day of the performance, an extraordinary gift of $2 million was received for the initiative which seeks to raise $10 million for this purpose. Selfhelp will be a major beneficiary of this funding.

Continue Reading

_______________________________________

New York Debut of Witness Theater
A Poignant Success

More than 850 attendees filled the auditorium to standing room capacity at the NY debut of Witness Theater on the eve of Yom Hashoah, to see the real life experiences of Selfhelp’s Holocaust survivors portrayed by students of Yeshivah of Flatbush at Joel Braverman High School in Brooklyn.

The survivors narrated the scenes as the students reenacted many of their lives’ most memorable moments – at times searing, painful, then hopeful as stories of their rescues and freedom unfolded.

We would like to convey heartfelt congratulations to the survivors, students, directors, YOF administration, JDC Eshel and Selfhelp staff who contributed endless hours in this labor of love to create such a memorable event. As one attendee put it so beautifully as she left after the performance, “I will remember this evening forever. Their stories have touched my heart.”

“Thank you for bringing our stories to life and for giving life to our stories,” remarked a Holocaust survivor from the cast.

The experience also touched the students deeply. “This was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life!” commented a student cast member. Another was eager to convey the impact the experience had on her personally, “Meeting survivors…and the bond we shared…this is immeasurable!”

Selfhelp hopes to expand programming for Witness Theater next year, and is anxious to work with potential donors to make this possible.

Click to see more Witness Theater photos

_______________________________________

Enjoy our annual report and see how your support is helping to change the face of aging. Click to read Selfhelp 2012 Annual Report If, in reading our annual report, you find a particular program or service that inspires you and which you'd personally like to support, please don't hesitate to contact us at (212) 971-7621 for sponsorship opportunities. Or you may make your gift online, by clicking here. Your gift can change a life.

_______________________________________

Virtual Senior Center Word is spreading about Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center (VSC). The Virtual Senior Center (VSC), an innovative project made possible by a public-private partnership between Selfhelp Community Services, Microsoft, the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) and Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT), is changing lives. The VSC enhances the lives of homebound seniors by using computer, video and Internet technology — in the seniors’ homes and at their local senior center — to create an interactive experience that reduces social isolation, promotes wellness, and provides better access to community services. Read More Click here for more links to recent articles and videos about Selfhelp’s VSC.

_______________________________________

Selfhelp has a new President of the Board, Raymond V.J. Schrag.  Click here to read more.

_______________________________________

NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITY -- Click here for details.

_______________________________________

Selfhelp Community Services and FEGS Health & Human Services Launch New Care Management Company -- SinglePoint Care Network. Click here to read more.
_____________________________________

Elihu Kover was featured in the August 24, 2012 issue of The New England Psychologist in the article, PSTD Support Remains Pertinent for Holocaust Survivors. Click here to read article.

_____________________________________

On Tuesday, August 14, 2012, NYI visited The Selfhelp Fresh Meadows Senior Program where one of our seniors, Claire Goldberg and her friends celebrated her 100th birthday.  Click here to view news clip.

_______________________________________

Microsoft Accessibility Update published the story, “Technology ‘Saved My Life’: Making Life Better for Boomers, Seniors” on July 09, 2012, which featured Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center.  The article discussed how technology solutions help baby boomers and seniors successfully address many of the issues associated with aging. Click here for story.

______________________________________

Selfhelp Volunteers were recognized by Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing) and City Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) for their services.  Click here to read story from The New York Daily News (Thursday, July 26, 2012).

_______________________________________

The July/August 2012 issue of LeadingAge Magazine published the article, "Transformational Technologies for Seniors: Marrying Dreams with Practicalities" by Stuart C. Kaplan.

Click here to read article.

_______________________________________

Selfhelp was awarded the first grant from The Consumer Electronics Association Foundation on June 27, 2012.  This will allow Selfhelp to expand the virtual senior center in New York and beyond.  Click here to read more about this exciting achievement.  Also visit our News & Events 2012 for news items on this topic and more.

Click here for Gary Shapiro's, Forbes Op-Ed, Transformative Technology for Seniors.

_______________________________

Leo Asen, Selfhelp's Vice President of Senior Communities, was interviewed on "Up Close With Diana Williams" on Sunday, June 24, 2012.  The show's topic was Aging in New York City.
Click here to view Leo Asen's interview.

_______________________________

Selfhelp's Innovative Senior Center featured in Wall Street Journal online version on May 23, 2012. Click here to read story.

________________________________

On August 12, 2011, Selfhelp Community Services led 41 organizations in filing an amicus or "friend of the court" brief supporting the New York City Medicaid Program, run by the Human Resources Administration ("HRA") which the U.S. Department of Justice has charged with filing "false claims" for its approval of 24-hour personal care services. For more information see http://wnylc.com/health/news/12/
CRAIN'S Health Newsletter August 17th

TeleHealth Kiosks Help Seniors Age Independently Selfhelp is collaborating with Jewish Home Lifecare to pilot two congregate telehealth kiosks. The kiosk installations were made possible through a one-year grant to Selfhelp from Enterprise Community Partners in recognition of Selfhelp's innovative use of technology to support older adults living safely, comfortably and independently in their homes. The grant enables Selfhelp to demonstrate how multi-patient telehealth kiosks can be used within two senior housing complexes to improve health literacy and wellness among the residents. Read more.

Selfhelp NextGen – Selfhelp’s new Young Leadership Group