It's Friday afternoon, and it seems like everyone is busy getting ready for Shabbat. A group of residents is working hard, kneading and braiding bread dough into the challahs that will be served at dinner. Earlier in the day, another group has arranged silk flowers in vases for decorations. Cohen Home resident Zita Polsky describes Friday nights as "a time when all people can come together to share."

In the dining room, the tables, usually arranged to seat four, are pushed together so that everyone eats together, family style. Songbooks, created by a former resident, are on the table. The yamulkas sit beside the Shabbat candlesticks on the side table. "Enjoying Shabbat dinner together as a family is what you would do at your own home," says Janet Sugarman, Executive Director. "We strive to create that same atmosphere here for our residents."

A variety of Shabbat evening and morning services are offered at different times of the month. Local congregations including Gesher L'Torah and Chabad of Alpharetta have held services at The Home. Teens from BBG and AZA chapters have led services as well. One of the most unique Shabbat celebrations is conducted by volunteer Charles Goldgeier. Charles brings his love of Judaism to life with a Friday afternoon Kabbalat Shabbat program that includes recorded music and familiar tunes. Cohen Home resident Bea Rothstein describes Kabbalat Shabbat with Charles as her personal favorite. Clara Goldgeier, Charles's mother, is also a resident of The Home. "Seeing him leading the service makes me so proud", she kvells. "He really puts his heart and soul into it."

The incorporation of Jewish values and culture into the daily activities of The Cohen Home contributes to the warm and caring mood. "Shabbat is a special time", states Cohen Home resident Mira Green. Joe Hershey, another resident of The Home, who often leads songs and prayers at the table on Friday nights agrees. He sums it all up simply by saying "Celebrating Shabbat at The Cohen Home? It's all very nice."

The Cohen Home, an assisted living facility in Alpharetta, is a beneficiary of The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. For more information, please phone Janet Sugarman at (770) 475-8787, email janets@cohenhome.org or visit www.cohenhome.org.

The Cohen Home is one of Federation's local beneficiary agencies, and received an allocation of $96,703 in FY03.