Giving thanks in North Woodmere

JCC’s Russian seniors celebrate Thanksgiving with an afternoon feast

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The JCC of the Greater Five Towns hosted four sessions of a Thanksgiving dinner for its Russian Division’s senior citizens at North Woodmere Park’s Recreational Building on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The dinner program was made possible by donations from the Inwood Charities Fund of the Inwood Country Club. The senior citizen program, known as Come Alive Group, is a social day care in existence for the past 20 years. This is the eighth year the country club has donated for the Thanksgiving dinners.
Joel Block, the executive director of the JCC of the Greater Five Towns, said that he looks forward to the event every year. “It’s a great way to bring our seniors together,” he said. “They really enjoy it.”
The seniors listened to Russian music as they dined, socialized and paused to reflect on their lives. Turkey, pasta salad, cranberries and stuffing were served, and red wine, along with soda and juice, washed down the thanksgiving meal.
Diana Zelmanovich, the assistant program director and case manager for the senior group, expressed her gratitude to the Inwood Country Club and their donation. “They have donated for our dinner every year we’ve held it,” she said. “We really appreciate it, and our seniors are so grateful.”