When COJO Flatbush held its inaugural Summer Garden Party for seniors in June 2023, the response was so electrifying that one couldn’t help but wonder whether future Summer Garden Parties would equal, let alone top, the level of exuberance generated that day. Any such doubts were quickly put to rest in 2024, when reactions from the attendees were beyond even the most optimistic expectations.
As a result, there was little prior suspense as to whether this year’s Summer Garden Party would be another massive crowd-pleaser. Expectations were sky-high, and the event – presented by COJO Flatbush in partnership with the Boro Park Y and sponsored by the New York City Department for the Aging – drew more than 300 seniors to Brooklyn’s historic and picturesque Dyker Beach Golf Course. The lineup of speakers and performers kept the packed house laughing, singing, and applauding with a delightful mix of music, magic, and Divrei Torah.
The festivities, billed as a celebration of “The 65+ Young at Heart in Our Community,” began with magician Marc Garfinkel, an internationally acclaimed, award-winning master of mentalism and illusion, who captivated the audience with astonishing feats of mind-reading and hypnosis. He was followed by Dr. Barbara Paris, a specialist in Geriatrics and Palliative Care affiliated with the Mount Sinai Health System and Maimonides Medical Center, who addressed issues related to aging and health such as nutrition, physical activity, and mental functioning. The emphasis then switched from physical to spiritual health as Rabbi Simcha Silverman, Rav of Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush, delivered an inspiring address on the importance of Jewish unity and the Torah imperative of dwelling together in peace with people of all persuasions and backgrounds. Meanwhile, the talented Shmuly Zelishovsky provided an ongoing musical backdrop between activities and speakers.
The centerpiece of the afternoon was a masterfully performed medley of musical numbers from the hit 1956 Broadway show and Academy Award-winning 1964 film “My Fair Lady” by an ensemble of talented musicians and actors, brought together by Jordan Hirsch of Jordan Hirsch Music. Among the old favorites given rousing renditions were such classics as “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “On the Street Where You Live.”
Capping off the afternoon, popular entertainer and musical artist Yoely Lebovitz sang and tossed off humorous asides in Yiddish and English as guests were treated to an extravagant dessert and ice cream buffet on the large outdoor patio overlooking the magnificent 18-hole championship golf course.
“We were thrilled to add the Garden Party to our calendar in 2023 and are so happy that it immediately became a circle-the-date event,” said COJO Social Services Director Shulamis Shapiro. “The location is gorgeous, the program always top notch, and the caterers at Events by Dovi always provide a sumptuous lunch. It’s something our seniors look forward to every year.”
Added COJO Flatbush CEO Louis Welz, “Bringing seniors out of their homes to socialize is an essential part of what we do at COJO, whether it’s our regularly scheduled arts-and-crafts parties, our seasonal senior luncheons, or our magnificent Summer Garden Party, the companionship and activities we offer are lifelines that enable seniors to feel vital and active.”
Welz and Shapiro thanked the Boro Park Y and Executive Director Ellie Kastel for “their enthusiastic partnership” in helping make the Garden Party such a success. “We’re grateful for their commitment and dedication to everything we do together,” said Shapiro.
The Garden Party is just one of the many services COJO Flatbush provides for seniors. For further information, call 718-377-2900, ext. 342.
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