Breman Knitting Project a Tie That Binds
SPECIAL FOR THE AJT //
Suzy Scheinberg couldn’t imagine holding a pair of knitting needles a couple of months ago.
Volunteers helped knit more than 270 handmade scarves. PHOTO / The Breman Home
She certainly didn’t think she could create a scarf for The William Breman Jewish Home’s second-annual Knitting Project, a program spearheaded by Cherie Aviv and Leslie Levy, longtime supporters of The Breman.
But, after hearing about the project at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s “Knit and Nosh” event, Scheinberg was inspired to make a scarf for The Home’s staff members this holiday season.
“This project was a double blessing for me: I learned to knit and felt proud giving something back to those who are caregivers,” Scheinberg said. “I was frustrated with the knitting at first, but was so happy by the end. I have continued to knit gifts for others, and it seems to be helping with my arthritic fingers. By giving, I certainly have received.”
Fellow knitter Rhoda Margolis agrees.
“This project not only warms the hearts of the recipients,” she said. “It’s also very heartwarming to those of us doing the knitting.”
Aviv, who’s supported the Breman Home for years, is particularly happy that the knitting project brings people together.
“Individuals and local organizations promoted the project, and some formed knitting groups,” she said. “Friends, neighbors, sisters, mothers and daughters challenged themselves and each other to knit together in the spirit of giving, creating a community of volunteers who came together to parlay their yarn into more than 270 scarves.”
Participating groups included JFGA’s Knit and Nosh group, The Peach State Stitchers, Knitting Circle in Savannah, The Ahavath Achim Congregation knitters and even a team from Short Hills, N.J. Employees at all of The Home’s entities received a scarf.
“They were absolutely beautiful; I could not resist looking at them,” said Mary Fleming, the Home’s activities assistant. “I felt so good that people I did not even know were doing this for me and my co-workers.”
More on the Breman Home
The William Breman Jewish Home is a nonprofit organization that began providing aging services in 1951. Since that time, numerous services have been added to meet the needs of the community.
The many options offered include long-term nursing care, the Aviv Rehabilitation Center, The Zaban Tower (independent living), The Cohen Home (assisted living), Weinstein Hospice, The One Group (private homecare and medical staffing) and – coming soon – Berman Commons (assisted living in Dunwoody).
To learn more about The Home and the services provided by The Breman, visit wbjh.org.
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