The Good Life

Growing up in Great Neck in the 1970s and ’80s, I listened eagerly to my mother and her cousin Marcia reminiscing about working Sunday evenings waiting tables and busing dishes in Kaufman’s Deli, which was Uncle Herbie’s place on Division Avenue in Williamsburg. I heard about the hustle and bustle, the interactions between the working class customers and the wise-cracking old Jewish waiters, the kibitzing at the deli counter with the jocular countermen in their paper hats.

Jerusalem — As her husband Gordon’s retirement neared seven years ago, Dorothy Mandelzweig, who made aliyah from South Africa about 20 years ago, began scouting around for a place to retire.

Longtime residents of Rishon Lezion,
southwest of Tel Aviv, the couple sought an affordable home in a retirement community nearby.

The Mandelzweig’s soon came to the conclusion that communities that cater to active seniors tend to be very expensive, especially in the center of the country, so they widened their search.

After years of reporting work, Jane Gross came to believe that she was one phone call away from any piece of information that she needed. Still, even after 30 years at The New York Times on the health and aging beat, among others, she found it very difficult to navigate the system of Medicare and other health benefits when she and her brother, who is also a talented writer, became caregivers for their mother. All of their specialized resources and competence proved useless. In an interview, she wonders out loud how, if they couldn’t figure it out, how could others?

Bruce Feiler’s surrogate fathers … Young people connecting with Holocaust survivors … Following the kids to Israel.