Jewish Senior Living Newsletter DECEMBER 2015 - VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 Keeping you connected to our communities.
Year-End Charitable Giving Reminders Make it count for 2015: donation deadline approaches Michael Sattell, CPA/CFF, CFE, President and CEO As we reach the end of 2015, you, like many others, may be in the middle of planning the majority of your charitable giving for the year. If you are considering the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation in your year-end giving, thank you. I want to remind you of a few important issues to ensure your gift is deductible in the year you intended, and for the amount you expect. To ensure the gift is deductible in the year you intend, you first need to understand the IRS’s “date of delivery” rules. Basically, the date you hand deliver a check or direct us to charge your credit card, either by phone or through our website, is considered the date of delivery that value has been transferred to the Foundation. Similarly, the date postmarked on US Postal Service mail will determine the year of deductibility, even if not delivered to us until 2016. In addition to cash, you can generally deduct the fair market value of any other property donated. This is often a wise tax strategy. Gifts of stocks and/or Mutual Funds must settle before the end of the year to be
considered a gift for that year. So please be careful if you intend to gift these securities before year’s end and allow yourself enough time to ensure they can be delivered to us by December 31. Finally, make sure to keep a record of any gift, by bank record or written communication from the organization. In addition, you must obtain a contemporaneous written acknowledgement of any gift of $250 or more from the organization which indicates the amount of cash or any property contributed. (At the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation, we make sure to send a receipt for any gift we receive, regardless of amount.) Please be careful to plan ahead and ensure your donation counts in the year you intend and for the amount you desire. IRS Publications 526, “Charitable Contributions” and 561, “Determining the Value of Donated Property” are especially informative. Check with your tax advisor for more information. And please let us know how we can help you with this or any charitable giving question, at 414-721-9255 or foundation@jewishseniorliving.org. n
The Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial support to the programs and services of the Jewish Home and Care Center, Chai Point Senior Living and Sarah Chudnow Community.
In This Issue
Year-End Charitable Giving Reminders Holiday Recipes From Residents
1
Winter SADness
3
2
Upcoming Events
4
Holiday Recipes From Residents With the holiday season in full swing, we are pleased to share some of our residents’ favorite recipes that are perfect to enjoy with family, friends, and neighbors. Leah’s Latkes The tradition in the Knight household is to throw a huge Chanukah party for the entire family each year. This party is a well-planned event with a fairly set menu, decorations and other traditions. I set the dining room table with a table Chai Point resident cloth, and informal ChanukahLeah Knight loves to themed dinnerware. The table is cook this delicious recipe for her family! decorated with gold and silver wrapped chocolate Chanukah gelt (coins) and various kinds of dreidls. The house is always filled with the delicious aroma of my latkes.
We will celebrate by lighting the candles on our chanukiah (the special menorah for Chanukah), say the blessings, play dreidl, and nosh on chocolate coins and sufganiot (jelly filled donuts) for dessert. Cabbage Rolls by Sala Ingredients 1 large cabbage 1 ½ lb. ground beef ½ cup uncooked rice (instant rice is best) 1 large onion 2 8-oz. cans tomato paste Olive Oil
Preparation Slowly add the potatoes into a blender alternating the egg, onion and flour. Blend on high to liquefy the mixture until it is still a bit lumpy, with the consistency of mushy oatmeal. Blend the latkes in small batches so that they fit into the blender and then put each batch into a large bowl. Cover the bottom of a huge skillet with vegetable oil and spoon the mixture into the hot oil. Fry the latkes on high heat and turn once when the edges are beginning to brown. Heat just a few more minutes until the other side is browned.
Sarah Chudnow Preparation Community resident 1. Freeze cabbage in a Sala Mydlak shares sealed plastic bag 2-3 her favorite recipe days prior to use. When from her recipe book. ready to use, defrost the cabbage (overnight in the refrigerator or for 1 hour in warm water) then separate individual leaves. 2. Cut onions into small squares and fry in oil until light brown. 3. Add tomato paste plus 1-2 cups of water and boil for 1-2 minutes to blend. 4. Add your favorite spices (garlic, salt, pepper, cilantro, etc). 5. Mix meat with rice and spices to taste. 6. Roll each cabbage leaf with some meat/rice mixture and arrange in an oven dish in a single or multiple layers. 7. Pour the tomato sauce to cover rolls.
Line cookie sheets with paper bags (to absorb the grease), and put the latkes in single layers on the cookie sheets. Place them in the oven on low heat to keep warm until the meal is ready. Serve the latkes with apple sauce and sour cream.
Please enjoy these recipes with your friends and family during the holiday season! If you have a favorite family recipe to share, we’d love to hear all about it on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jhccfoundation. n
Ingredients 1 lb of russet potatoes washed, peeled and quartered 1-2 eggs A few tablespoons of flour 1 large onion Salt and pepper to taste
Stay Connected 2 | JSL News | December 2015
Visit our website and donate online at www.jewishseniorliving.org. Questions? Call the JHCC Foundation Office at 414.721.9255.
Winter SADness Seasonal Affective Disorder is prevalent this time of year. Liz Brach, Donor Stewardship Coordinator Falls and hypothermia are likely to top the list of concerns during the icy winter months, but elderly loved ones are also at risk for a lesser known, but still hazardous event brought on by frigid weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder affects about 2% of Americans each year. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is related to the change in seasons – it begins and ends at about the same time every year. In almost all cases, SAD symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and dissipates during spring and summer, earning it the nickname “winter depression.” SAD is more commonly found in women and people who live far north or south of the equator. What is the cause of SAD? The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown, but researchers say that some factors may include: Your biological clock. The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may contribute to SAD. Feelings of depression are said to be caused by a decrease in sunlight which disrupts your body’s internal clock. Your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a brain chemical that affects mood. Reduced sunlight causes a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression. Your melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood. Why are older adults at risk? Older adults are often less mobile, and therefore receive less exposure to natural sunlight and time outdoors. Additionally, underlying chronic conditions may also be aggravated during the cold and dark winter months.
JSL in the News
What are the symptoms of SAD? Symptoms usually start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses. Here is a list of symptoms that are typical of SAD. l Irritability l Tiredness l Low energy l Heavy feeling in the arms or legs l Oversleeping l Changes in appetite l Weight gain l Social withdrawal l Anxiety l Feelings of worthlessness or sadness l Difficulty concentrating What are the treatments available? If you are considering antidepressant treatment for SAD, please consult a medical professional. Here are some non-drug treatments for SAD. Light Therapy. Light therapy uses a piece of equipment called a ‘light box,’ which is a fluorescent lamp that gives off light that mimics natural outdoor light. In light therapy, the person sits a few feet from the light for about 30-45 minutes total minutes per day, usually in the morning, to make up for the lack of sunlight. Psychotherapy. Also referred to as talk therapy, psychotherapy can help one to learn healthy ways to cope with SAD, and to change negative thoughts and behaviors that may be making you feel worse. Engaging in social activities and exercise also help to combat the effects of SAD. For more information on seasonal affective disorder, please visit the Mayo Clinic website at www.mayoclinic.org. n
Read about programming and events at our communities in the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. December 2015 | JSL News | 3
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 3120
1414 North Prospect Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202-3089 Phone: 414-276-2627
Upcoming Events Flamenco Amazement featuring Marija Temo Sunday, December 20, 2:00 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion Songstress Julie Thompson Sunday, December 20, 3:00 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square Bible Women with Rabbi Steven Adams Topic: “Our Matriarchs - Rebecca” Monday, December 21, 3:00 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square
Jewish History Journey with Rabbi Steven Adams End of the Israelite Nation: Roman Rule, Revolts, Temple Destroyed Monday, December 28, 2:45 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion New Year’s Eve Celebration “An Evening of Music and Song” performed by the Chai Point Choir Thursday, December 31, 6:45 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion Visit www.jewishseniorliving.org for updated activities.
Social Media
jhccfoundation
@JSLiving
Jewish Home and Care Center
JHCC Foundation