For more than a decade, local seniors have known “the Pavilion” not as a place but as an essential resource to keep them connected to their Jewish heritage and help them find answers and advice as they navigate the senior journey. As the organization continues to thrive and grow, it is updating its name to Jewish Pavilion Senior Services to better highlight the many different ways it can improve the lives of older adults and their loved ones.

Jewish Pavilion Senior Services offers two main programs. First, with the help of dedicated program directors and volunteers, the organization travels to no fewer than 50 senior-living communities across Central Florida to bring Jewish cultural programming and holiday celebrations to residents. Jewish Pavilion Senior Services also operates the Orlando Senior Help Desk, a thriving information and referral service that can connect anyone in Central Florida with the resources and service providers that can help them, or a senior in their life, get the assistance they need.

“Our brand and reputation in the community are so strong,” says Nancy Ludin, CEO of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services. “Local seniors know how much we love them and how much we care about them and their Jewish identity, and families know how much our Help Desk can make the senior journey so much less stressful to navigate. Jewish Pavilion Senior Services captures both of these essential missions, and we will continue to build our brand with new generations of supporters who will keep these missions going for years and years to come.”

As part of that outreach, Jewish Pavilion Senior Services is proud to sponsor this new Senior Life section of J Life – a home for wonderful content about local seniors and those who care for them and love them. From profiles of Jewish Pavilion volunteers and supporters to compelling feature stories about area seniors accomplishing incredible things, this section is the go-to place to prove age is just a state of mind.

Jewish Pavilion Senior Services Featured Program Director

Lauren Sharfstein

By Alan Byrd

Lauren Sharfstein’s passion truly is working with seniors. She’s devoted most of her adult life to helping bring joy to the older population, currently as one of the program directors for Jewish Pavilion Senior Services.

“Jewish seniors have such a wonderful sense of humor and such great wisdom,” Lauren says. “I love listening to their stories and learning about their lives.”

One time, when she was working as the activity director for Kinneret, a woman came to Lauren’s office with her CV. The woman had worked with the Italian Intelligence Agency, and at one point, entertained the Boston Ballet at her house.

“I realized there was so much I didn’t know about the people I was working with,” Lauren says. “My nana was a major influence on my life because she broke the generation gap for me. I would visit her all the time and I have the same joy with the seniors I work with that I did with my nana.”

Lauren spent her early childhood in Central Florida before moving to North Carolina when she was seven. She returned often and came back as a senior at Lake Brantley High School and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in English.

While she was studying for her degree, she started working at Kinneret and decided that was her life’s work.

“I wanted to stay working there as long as possible,” she adds.

Unfortunately, due to government cutbacks, all activity director positions in government-subsidized senior communities were eliminated including her position. Lauren spent the next few years with her husband raising their two daughters. She then took a position at The Roth Family JCC’s Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center as a preschool teacher, but she still felt called to work with seniors.

When the program manager position at Jewish Pavilion Senior Services opened up, Lauren immediately applied, joining the team in 2022.

“Our seniors were the generation that cared for us when we were little, and we should pay it back and do all we can for them,” she says. “Jewish Pavilion Senior Services truly helps build that circle to allow me and others to give back to our elders.”

Jewish Pavilion Senior Services Featured Resident

Joe Epstein

By alan Byrd

One of the first things Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary resident Joe Epstein shares with visitors is the mezuzah he keeps in his pocket. More than 80 years ago, his parents gave him the charm attached to a necklace. Since then, he has worn it around his neck or kept it in his pocket every day. It’s a constant reminder of his religion and traditions and of his family.

*Oakmonte Village at Lake Mary residents Joe Epstein and Suzanne Grossner*

“I spent 16 months in combat in Korea during the war and it helped me get through,” Joe says. “I saw a lot, and I thank the Almighty for pulling me through without any injuries, and I thank this mezuzah. It’s been like a lucky charm to me.”

Joe participates in every event that Jewish Pavilion Senior Services holds at Oakmonte Village, from Shabbat services every other week to all the special events such as March’s Purim party. Joe was raised with conservative Jewish values in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was studying business when he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Joe served as a medic in the 24th Infantry Division, experiencing some of the most violent fighting during the war.

“They went through hell,” he says.

Coming back to Pittsburgh after the war, Joe received his bachelor’s degree with G.I. Bill funding. He started his career at the famous department store Gimbels as an assistant buyer in the women’s dress division.

Based on a recommendation from one of his bosses, he landed a position with renowned designer Leslie Fay. He spent the next three decades managing Leslie Fay’s retail customers for all of Pennsylvania, as well as western and central New York.

“People came to me with an open book to buy from Leslie Fay for the season, and they would have orders of $250,000,” Joe says. “They were coming to me! I didn’t have to canvas for sales at all.”

After retirement, Joe – who suffers from macular degeneration – moved to Central Florida. Today, you’ll find him attending events offered by Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and helping run the bingo activities several days a week. He has also met Suzanne Grossner, who is now his best friend and companion.

“I love the Jewish Pavilion. It is a gift to the Jewish people who live in senior living communities like this,” he says. “I don’t know where I would be without them.”

Jewish pavilion senior services featured volunteer

Myrna ossin

by hedy bass

Myrna Ossin is a woman of many talents. An author of 10 books and a former high-school Spanish teacher, she is also a gardener, painter, and baker who has devoted her life to enriching the lives of others.

When Myrna’s four children were young, she made a pledge to find time for her kids’ schools and her community at large, particularly her Jewish community.

“When my mother was living at the Cascades in Longwood, I’d join her for services,” Myrna says. “Then I asked if they needed help with services.”

Soon, Myrna was bringing delicious home-baked goodies, like her well-loved hamantaschen, to the residents. She found joy in engaging people in mindful and fun activities by volunteering in several senior-living communities served by Jewish Pavilion Senior Services.

Always a teacher at heart, she continues to engage seniors by helping them learn how to manage finances and earn money in their elder years. Often, Myrna speaks about the books she’s read, creating an atmosphere for others to contribute and share their stories. Also an avid gardener, Myrna has been known to bring plants to residents because she believes everyone should have something to care for.

No doubt, Myrna takes having fun seriously. Her dedication to seniors through her volunteer work at the Pavilion is well-known.

“Myrna has been active with Jewish Pavilion Senior Services for all 16 years of my tenure,” says Nancy Ludin, the Pavilion’s CEO. “She always goes the extra mile. I’ve asked her to cook for the seniors and for Jewish Pavilion events probably a hundred times during those years, and she has always said yes. There have been times when Myrna was leaving for vacation or returning from vacation, and she still baked for our organization. She’s a very generous and compassionate woman.”

Busy though she is, Myrna has stayed true to the pledge she made long ago: finding time for the Jewish community she so passionately loves.

This story was originally published in print in Summer 2024.

Jewish Pavilion, At Your Service