Over the course of the year, Shaare Zedek will feature community members discussing wellness-related topics, geared for a multigenerational audience. We kick off these sessions with Susie Kessler, Director of Makom at JCC Manhattan, and Rabbi Geffen’s mother. 

It's never too early to start aging wisely! Based on the book, Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience, & Spirit by Upper West Siders Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal, classes in Wise Aging are popping up all over the country. Together, we'll look at some of the main issues discussed in the book and in the course: reconnecting with our authentic selves, cultivating qualities for well-being, living with loss and change, and shaping our legacy. We'll also have a little time to learn about some tools that can prepare us for this time of life, helping us become stronger and more resilient. As the years advance some doors inevitably close, but aging wisely means that we don't need to see this period of time as a downhill journey. Let's cultivate the power to meet the new opportunities that will arise with openness, curiosity and even joy.