Mr. Goldstein: JFSA Seniors Dept.

There are two sides to Mr. Goldstein: his present and his past. As a younger man, he spent 30 years of his life in the Israeli army. During that time he fought in four wars – the Independent War, Sinai War, the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War - sustaining life-threatening injuries three times. One time his badly mangled body was pronounced dead and sent to the morgue where a death certificate was administered. Inside the death chamber, Mr. Goldstein felt the frigid air and bolted upright, proving he was not ready to succumb. His death certificate now hangs in a frame on his wall, a reminder of his strength- a reminder of his past.

Mr. Goldstein’s present life takes up much of the space on his walls. Dozens of large-scale, framed tapestry adorn his one bedroom apartment. Some of them are of old-fashion scenery while others are contemporary pieces. Each one is done with patience and persistence, thought and care.

Mr. Goldstein had a hard time sitting still when he returned from the army in 1973, after spending so much of his energy fighting wars, so his wife taught him the art of needlework. He now spends five hours a day on his craft. One piece will take about eight months to complete.

The 83-year-old enjoys needlework because the counting and persistence keeps his brain busy and active. He also credits his weekly outing to Temple Shalom for keeping him active. Every Tuesday he attends the JFSA Seniors Lunch program, where he socializes with 20-25 other attendees.

“At my age, the worst thing is to sit at home and to think,” he says.

The JFSA Seniors Department coordinates and provides services such as Home Support, assessment, case management, and public education for Jewish seniors throughout the Vancouver area. It also sponsors and coordinates two volunteer-run lunch programs that offer healthy meals to seniors. At the seniors lunch program Mr. Goldstein sits with his friends, both young and old, talks politics and laughs.

“You feel that you are connected, that you are not alone,” he says. “You feel that you have someone. When I need JFSA, I have them.”

He says attending the luncheon makes him feel the same way he feels when he has completed a needlework project.

“I can say I am happy,” he says. “I am satisfied.”