Days after Valentine’s Day, MorseLife resident Esther Feldberg signed copies of her debut memoir, “Sunshine and Moonstruck: My True Story of Love, Joy and Sadness,” for fellow residents and friends.

Published in September 2024, the book chronicles her first marriage to her college sweetheart who she met while attending University of Illinois. “The first minute I met him, we fell in love. He was very handsome and the love of my life,” she said. Her husband of 18 years was a lieutenant and communications officer in the Navy and sadly passed away of an illness at the age of 41, leaving her to raise their three children on her own.

Feldberg also goes back deeper in her family’s history to share her maternal and paternal grandfathers’ stories of moving from Europe to the United States, recounting the trials and tribulations Jewish immigrants faced.

“Sunshine and Moonstruck” is available for purchase on Amazon. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

With too many stories to tell in its 110 pages, Feldberg is currently hard at work on her next memoir about her second chance at love with Sumner “Sonny” Feldberg. The future couple rode the school bus together when she was in seventh grade, and she thought he was cute. They later reconnected as adults and eventually married.

The pair moved to MorseLife in July 2019, and he passed away in July 2022 at the age of 98. Fashionistas and “Maxxinistas” will really enjoy Felberg’s second book. Sonny was the founder of such stores as BJ’s Wholesale Club, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and Homesense and she’ll share the backstories of their creation.

About to celebrate her 99^th birthday in April, Feldberg is still going strong and enjoys spending time at Palm Beach Country Club, where she’s been a member since 1990.

When it comes to love and relationships, Philip and Peg O’Donnell are a case study in love that was meant to be. While every relationship has bumps in the road, only a partnership built on love, trust and respect will withstand the test of time.

Their love story began 75 years ago in 1947, when they were prom dates. Phil was the student manager of the basketball team at their high school in Indiana and the vice president of the booster club. Peg was busy competing for grades and was, in Phil’s words, “the class sweetheart.” Although there was a spark between them from the start, life took them down different paths. Phil attended Butler University, enlisted in the Air Force and became a pharmacist. Peg married and eventually became an elementary school counselor. Over the years, life went on and their relationship was just a distant memory, or so they thought.

Then came their 50-year high school reunion, where the two quickly and naturally got to sharing their stories and catching up on five decades that seemed to have flown by.

“The sparks flew,” said Peg, with a loving look at Phil.

“You can still see it today,” said Phil.

After the reunion, each of them went back home and stayed in touch with letters. Before long, it was apparent that they were in love. They married four years later, on Nov. 25, 2001, and their meant-to-be relationship continued to grow.

They eventually moved to North Carolina and later to Bonita Springs, Florida. In September 2022 they were displaced by the devastation of Hurricane Ian, which destroyed the coast of Southwest Florida. Forced to relocate, they remembered hearing about Tradition, where a family member once lived.

Today, they live in a fifth-floor apartment at MorseLife’s Tradition All-Inclusive Assisted Living, on a magnificent campus where they can access the help they need and where nearby friends and family can stop by to visit.

“It’s very clean here and the food is great,” Peg said.

Without a doubt, Peg and Phil were meant to be together. Comfortable with each other and with their new home at Tradition, they treasure the feeling of being “at home,” surrounded by friendship and love.

Knowing the residents you’re cooking for is an important part of the job for MorseLife Executive Chef Matt Hammett, Director of Culinary, Chef Chris Collier, and the MorseLife culinary team. Many residents have dietary preferences and restrictions or simply just like certain foods. Hence, our culinary specialists make an extra effort to get to know them individually, putting a face to each delicious meal they cook and serve. The scent of good food can go a long way toward helping elderly residents feel more at home, especially when there’s the extra touch of knowing the chef who cooked it for you really cares.

This personal relationship sparked a conversation between resident Arthur Nagler, age 97, and Chef Matt, who was awed and inspired by Nagler’s harrowing tales and scrapbook photos of his U.S. Army service as a World War II surgical technician.

Drafted in 1943 to General George S. Patton’s Third Army, Nagler landed with his medical service team on Utah Beach in Normandy, France, just four months after the D-Day invasion. Soon, he was called to Germany, where he was wounded and suffered a concussion during the famed two-month Battle of Bulge, but despite his injuries, Nagler kept working to care for other soldiers.

Although France later bestowed him with the French Legion Honor Medal, Nagler never received a Purple Heart from the United States, perhaps because—unknown to many—the rules surrounding the award of the famed medal had been changed by the Army just two years before, suddenly making them very rare.

The Purple Heart remains one of American history’s most cherished and widely recognized medals. So, after hearing Nagler’s story, Chef Matt decided it was time to rectify history. Scouring through heirlooms for sale, he found a real Purple Heart and gave it to Nagler as a gift.

“Although it was not an official presentation or military issue, he can still wear it on the left side of his uniform,” Chef Matt explained.

Nagler returned home after the war to become one of the original managers of Florida’s Everglades Growers Cooperative with his wife, Nola, in the late 1950s. He was also a civic founder of The Glades area, which comprised early rural developments in Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay.

Even though it was unofficial, receiving the symbolic Purple Heart filled Nagler with pride, and he still talks about it every time he introduces Chef Matt to his friends and family.

Matt also feels a deep sense of pride at being able to pay his respects to his good friend from the “Greatest Generation” and shared that “Mr. and Mrs. Nagler are amazing people.”

Realizing your loved one may be facing the onset of dementia can be a lonely, helpless feeling. Take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Caring for a loved one suffering from a progressive memory disease such as Alzheimer’s takes tremendous time and patience.

Many who attempt to singlehandedly care for someone suffering from significant memory impairment eventually find themselves at the agonizing crossroads of contemplating whether to continue alone or navigate the often-overwhelming unknowns of seeking outside help.

There is another option. By moving your family member or loved one to a high-quality memory care residence, you can feel good about ensuring they receive proper care in a safe and loving environment with a continuum of care that can significantly improve their quality of life.

Here, at MorseLife’s five-star Memory Care Residences, we’re using new and exciting ways to provide residents with groundbreaking therapies to help slow the progression of memory-related illness, reduce difficult dementia symptoms, and help engage them in fulfilling ways. With around-the-clock access to expert care, residents can experience art, music, dance, and even virtual reality therapies that can bring them joy, healthy stimulation, physical movement, and a reduction in mood disorders.

Notably, MorseLife is the only senior care provider authorized by the State of Florida to offer cannabinoid-based therapies, which help to uplift spirits, promote better sleep, ease pain and reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals.

MorseLife’s multi-sensory approach includes the aroma and sight of home-cooked meals prepared in an open kitchen. Residents are also encouraged to engage with friends, family, and care staff in warm, homelike living areas and enjoy nature in the tranquil outdoor gardens with common areas arranged into welcoming “neighborhoods.”

All-inclusive care, locator systems for each resident, an in-house medical clinic, and access to various enrichment activities and family support make MorseLife an ideal community to help ease physical and emotional distress.

MorseLife’s expert interdisciplinary medical team, led by our on-site Harvard-trained geriatrician, is supported by certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses.

As cognitive impairment illness progresses, MorseLife Memory Care offers a single, all-inclusive fee that will not increase with the level of care.

Give MorseLife a call or schedule a visit to learn more about our reputation as a national leader in enlightened memory care.

Eighty-four years have passed since the violent anti-Jewish demonstrations of November 9^th and 10^th 1938, known as Kristallnacht, a word that translates from German into “The Night of Broken Glass.”  Those two days marked a ghastly escalation in the pre-World War II persecution of Jews from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and ultimately all European Jews.  After this tragic night of violence and destruction perpetrated by Nazis, the persecution of Jews intensified progressively until six million were murdered in what came to be known as the Holocaust.

With each passing anniversary of Kristallnacht, we are reminded that historical turning points like these can help us comprehend the past, so we can determine how to secure a better future, where atrocities like the Holocaust never happen again.

Three years ago, MorseLife learned about the plight of impoverished Holocaust Survivors living among us in Palm Beach County, which was a turning point in the way we saw our role in the community.  We discovered these remaining frail elders who had survived the most horrible atrocities were now struggling amidst the plenty that surrounds them. To help them, we created the NOW For Holocaust Survivors initiative, through which MorseLife now provides vital services at no charge to Survivors in need.  Our purpose is to keep them healthy, safe and secure.

To date generous donors have contributed more than $5 million to the NOW initiative, making a substantial difference in the lives of hundreds of vulnerable Holocaust Survivors by addressing their needs for case management, food insecurity and emergency financial assistance.

As they age, Survivors’ crucial needs are even greater than we anticipated and we are determined to help them, but most importantly, to let them know someone cares.

To find out more about NOW for Holocaust Survivors and what can be done to help, please visit morselifefoundation.org/holocaust-survivors.

MorseLife Resident and World War II Ghost Army Veteran to Soon be Honored with a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor

MorseLife resident Manny Frockt is one of nine surviving members of two top-secret World War II military units called the “Ghost Army.” Thanks to the recent passage of congressional legislation, Manny will finally be awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for his service 75 years ago.

In World War II, Manny served in the 3133 Signal Service Company Special, which handled sonic deception for the Ghost Army, a classified “tactical deception unit.” Manny enlisted at 21 and was sent to New York to train for a “top secret” troop of about 1200 men whom the “bigger army” used when they needed to pull out of an area. They would send the “ghost army” in who would use inflatable tanks, sound effects, and imagination to fool the Germans on the battlefields of Europe, making the enemy think the “bigger army” was still there.

Manny himself was in the “sound effects” troop as he explained, “They would open the back of these big tractors and play recorded sounds of men’s voices, yelling, gunfire, grenades, engines until the Nazis either backed off or until the “bigger army” had enough time to move their troops elsewhere. It was easier for the ghost army, which consisted of 1200 men or so, to move without being noticed than the average 15,000-man troop.”

The Ghost Army started in Normandy and lasted for three years until Paris was liberated. The units did a total of 19 missions. Unfortunately, Manny was medically discharged due to severe frostbite in his feet.

Members of the Ghost Army saved thousands of lives and helped win the war, but their efforts and contributions were classified for over 40 years. Congratulations, Manny, on this long-awaited recognition. We are so proud to know you, and it is a pleasure to have you as part of our MorseLife community!

MorseLife’s Rabbi Erica Rosenkranz Leads Residents in a Sukkot Celebration

MorseLife residents and employees recently gathered to celebrate Sukkot, the “Feast of Tabernacles,” which celebrates the harvest and commemorates God’s miraculous protection for the children of Israel’s departure from Egypt. It is one of the three Jewish pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot.

The Purim celebration was part of MorseLife’s JewishLife initiative, created to engage residents, families, members of the community, and employees through religious, ritual, and spiritual events.

To mark the occasion, MorseLife created a foliage-covered sukkah. Rabbi Erica Rosenkranz, director of JewishLife and director of community engagement for the NOW for Holocaust Survivors Initiative at MorseLife, led residents in the ceremonial waving of the lulav (palm branch), aravot (two willows), hadassim (three myrtles), and etrog (citron), symbolizing levels of Torah knowledge and together representing Jewish unity.

MorseLife’s JewishLife initiative includes year-round religious services for Shabbat, Havdalah, Rosh Chodesh, Kaddish, and special healing services. Holiday programs such as Purim costume parties and Hamantaschen baking, Shabbat Challah Bakes, and Passover Seders, along with Klezmer bands and Israeli dancing performances, bring Yiddishkeit to life at MorseLife. Lively current events discussions focus on worldwide events through a Jewish values lens. In addition, pastoral counseling for residents and their families is available, as are Jewish lifecycle traditions such as baby naming ceremonies.

Volunteers Share Sweet High Holiday Traditions with Seniors in Need

 

MorseLife volunteers, residents and staff once again gathered to package and deliver kosher holiday meals to more than 1500 vulnerable seniors living throughout Palm Beach County.

“It’s wonderful to be able to bring the community together again this year to enjoy the sweet traditions of the High Holidays with seniors who depend on MorseLife for support,” said President & CEO Keith Myers. “We are grateful to have such dedicated volunteers who have made it an annual tradition to serve meals to isolated seniors through the MorseLife Homebound Mitzvah program.”

Seniors received traditional meals of homemade Matzoh Ball Soup, wine, challah, an apple and honey, and homemade honey cake for dessert.

“We continue to maintain social distancing measures for the safety of our seniors, which includes contactless meal drop-offs,” added Myers. “Even though these challenges exist, it’s a joyous occasion to share traditional holiday rituals.”

MorseLife’s Homebound Mitzvah Program for Passover and the High Holidays gathers hundreds of community volunteers to assist with pre-delivery meal packaging and/or meal delivery to Palm Beach County seniors. Volunteers assist in many programs that benefit community seniors in need, such as the Homebound Mitzvah Program, which are made possible through generous donations to the MorseLife Foundation.

MorseLife Partners with Community Organizations to

Bring the Butterfly Project to Palm Beach County

A recent Jewish Journal story highlights how the project memorializes children who perished in the Holocaust and honored Survivors through art and education

 

MorseLife residents, Palm Beach County students, and community members are taking part in the Butterfly Project. In this educational and memorial-making project, each participant paints one butterfly for every child lost in the Holocaust.  The goal is to create 1.5 million butterflies worldwide as a display of resilience and hope.

Morselife Health System’s NOW for Holocaust Survivors Initiative, along with NEXT GENERATIONS of Holocaust Survivors in Boynton Beach, the Palm Beach County School District, the Orthodox Union’s youth group NCSY’s Jewish Student Union, and the international Butterfly Project have partnered together to bring the Butterfly Project to the Palm Beach County community. The partnership was made possible through a grant from the Jewish Federations of North America’s Center on Aging and Trauma, a project of the Holocaust Survivor Initiative.

“While we provide free care and support services to Survivors in poverty through our NOW for Holocaust Survivors Initiative, we also feel a profound obligation to educate younger generations and memorialize those who were lost in the Holocaust,” said MorseLife Health System President and CEO Keith Myers. “Art can touch the soul in deeply meaningful ways, which is why this project is so powerful for children, families, and our residents.”

Each butterfly comes with a biography about a child who was murdered in the Holocaust, relating information about their life to connect the artist to the victim. The Butterfly Project uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate about the dangers of hatred and bigotry while cultivating empathy and social responsibility.

“All of the impoverished survivors we support through our NOW for Holocaust Survivors Initiative have suffered unimaginable trauma. With more than 5,000 ceramic butterflies being created community-wide in Palm Beach, this project represents hope for the future and the assurance that through education, history won’t repeat itself,” added Rabbi Erica Rosenkranz, MorseLife’s NOW Initiative engagement director.

MorseLife has also announced plans to work with a local artist on a sculpture designed with the butterflies, which will be on permanent display at MorseLife and serve as a lasting symbol of endurance, hope, and change. The sculpture is to be complete in early 2022.

To read more, visit the Jewish Journal.

Committed to Caring for Holocaust Survivors 365 Days a Year

 

January 27^th was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust while honoring those who survived. At MorseLife, we pay tribute to those who suffered this unimaginable cruelty each day. Through our NOW Holocaust Survivor initiative, we provide a lifeline of services to impoverished Holocaust Survivors throughout Palm Beach County and beyond, 365 days a year.

Depending on each Survivor’s need, MorseLife provides comprehensive services including care management, housekeeping and errands, nutritious meals, personal care, transportation, medication management, skilled nursing care, medical assessment, safety system installation, respite care, music and art therapy, financial management, and more, at little or no cost.

As a leading-edge provider of senior care, we are also working hard to train our care teams to better support older adults with a history of trauma through ‘Person-centered, trauma-informed’ (PCTI) care.  PCTI provides holistic care to promote the dignity, strength and empowerment of trauma survivors by incorporating knowledge about trauma into our programs.

At MorseLife we are firmly committed to educating today’s youth about the dangers of hatred and bigotry and ensuring that history never repeats itself. We recently launched The Butterfly Project in Palm Beach County, allowing children and families in our community and at local synagogues to paint ceramic butterflies as symbols of resilience and hope, one for each child who perished in the Holocaust, and in honor of Survivors. To date, over 1,000 butterflies have been painted and will soon be part of a commemorative sculpture on the MorseLife campus.

To learn more about the Now for Holocaust Survivors initiative, visit MorseLifeFoundation.org or call (561)349-4556.