Julia Goldstein, of Boca Raton, who is now 103 years old, could take care of herself and keep her own house until she was 99-plus years old.
However, a few years ago when Goldstein could no longer maintain herself at her own home, her three children — Leonard Goldstein, of Boynton Beach; Barbara Prelak, of Boca Raton; and Gail Zimmerman, of Deerfield Beach — looked to find the best facility for her.
Since it was important to Goldstein that she maintain a kosher lifestyle, Menorah House Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care Center in Boca Raton is the facility that Goldstein’s family chose for her.
Menorah House is a true Glatt Kosher facility — under the supervision of the Orthodox Rabbinical Board of Broward and Palm Beach Counties (O.R.B.) — with full-time rabbinic supervision of the kitchen for kosher requirements, including Shabbat and all Jewish holidays. It is not just a “kosher-style” facility as some other local establishments advertise.
In addition to strict Glatt Kosher supervision, Menorah House has had a full-time Jewish spiritual advisor the last 18 years in Rabbi Isaac Jalusi, the rabbi of the facility’s synagogue, and director of Tiferes Zekeinim Chabad at Menorah House.
Jalusi said: “The Torah teaches us that spirituality is the most important thing in a person’s life, particularly in these older people’s lives. They want to come to a place where they are cared for and their spiritual needs are met. Menorah House is just such a place where we meet our residents’ spiritual needs.”
In that spirit, when Jalusi noticed there were six residents of Menorah House celebrating 100-plus birthdays this month, he thought that this called for a special party to mark the occasion.
So, on Monday afternoon, Dec. 15 at the facility, the following six residents celebrated their birthdays: Hannah Moskowitz, 105; Goldstein, 103; Gertrude Berman, 102; and Jeanne Baruch, Anne Kirchenbaum and Carman Yunes, 100.
Moskowitz, a musician all her life, thrilled and delighted the audience as she is still able to play the piano.
All six ladies appreciated the extra attention and love that was showered upon them.
Leonard Goldstein said: “My mom is particularly happy today. She has a big smile on her face.”
Added Prelak: “My mom loved getting flowers. She loves flowers.”
Said Zimmerman: “We’re blessed that we are all close by and that they take such good care of our mom here.”
The birthday party was organized by Rabbi Jalusi and Joan Ball, Menorah House director of recreational therapy.
Special guests included two of Rabbi Jalusi’s children, Abraham Aryeh Yisroel Jalusi, an 11-year-old boy, and Malkie Meira Jalusi, a seven-year-old girl. The two Jalusi children represented Hebrew Academy Community School of Margate.
Shawn Taylor, administrator of Menorah House, said: “I’m very excited to have had at Menorah House a celebration with all of our residents for those among us who were celebrating these milestone birthdays. It is part of the extra special attention to our residents that Rabbi Jalusi provides for us. Though we take care of people of all faiths, we do have a special relationship to the Jewish community that we are very proud of.”
For more information about Menorah House, visit or call 561-483-0498.
