The ten-story building of the Bialystoker Center and Home for the Aged at 228-230 East Broadway, New York, which serves as the world headquarters for Bialystoker landsleit. of one hundred Bialystoker Jews planned the proceed- ings. Each landsmanschaft organization selected a par- ticular evening during that week to mark the joyous occasion. The public at large was invited to participate in each party. Thousands of people came to visit the Home to admire the tireless efforts of Bialystokers. A parade swelled the Lower East Side on Sunday, June 21, 1931, the Home’s grand opening. Almost ev- eryone connected with Bialystok participated, as well as Jews from other places of origin. The closing banquet was held at Beethoven Hall, 210 East Sth Street in New York. More than five hundred people attended, includ- ing all the directors of the Bialystoker Center, represen- tatives of Bialystoker organizations and leading Jewish figures. Many political and Jewish community leaders sent congratulatory telegrams to the Bialystoker Home, including Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lieutenant Governor Herbert Lehman, New York Mayor James Walker, Manhattan Borough President Samuel Levy, and B. Vladek, Manager of the Jewish Daily Forward. Mr. Sohn, in honor of the grand opening, wrote in the Stimme that the new facility would care not only for the elderly population at the time of its construction but would serve future generations of old and infirm The Bialystoker Memorial Book people. His words were prophetic. Toward the end of his life, he was admitted as a resident of the Home, where he died on February 10, 1968. Many years ear- lier, he exhorted his followers to support the Home, for no one could know when he or she might need its Services. From a Modest Beginning to Great Accomplishments The first fifty residents of the Home were admitted shortly after it opened in September 1931. The Rosh Hashanah issue of the Bialystoker Stimme of that year stated, “Several hundred men and women came to wor- ship in our new synagogue on both days of Rosh Hashanah. Our cantors uplifted them with their inspir- ing services. On Yom Kippur, a memorial service was held in our shul for deceased members and Jandsleit.’’ The Home’s operating costs increased, because the directors were determined to provide excellent care for the residents and admit additional people. At first there was a waiting list of twenty; several months later it grew to seventy-five. More people, hearing how wonderful the Bialystoker Home was, applied for admission. Many thousands of visitors passed through the corri- dors of the Home and went away greatly impressed. A Fine Institution in Good Hands Devoted people who invested their energies and con- cern have ensured the Home’s continued excellence. Our organization will exist for many more _ years because we enjoy the support of new members prepared to carry on the work of their predecessors. The Bialystoker Home is a traditional kosher insti- tution dedicated to bringing comfort and dignity to the lives of Jewish senior citizens. It has a fully staffed med- ical and nursing department, as well as modern food services, chaplaincy, recreation, rehabilitation and maintenance departments. Our Health Related Facility serves people requiring some medical supervision but able to carry out their activities of daily living with min- imal assistance. For those needing complete care around the clock, there is a dedicated staff of profes- sionals in all relevant disciplines. Our Bialystoker landsleit can be proud of what they and their forefathers accomplished — a geriatric facility that can compete most favorably with similar institutions. The Bialystoker Center, the governing body of the Home, will continue shepherding it to even greater accomplishments after we round out our first half century. 169