Directory
Active Aging Organizations and Leadership
Developing programming or looking for assistance to help you get started in active aging? We’re here for you! Browse our directory below.
Otis, Joshua
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Stage: Looking at options / planning
Our organization is the Jewish Federation for the Greater Toronto Area. We are involved in aging-related programs as a funder and community partner. We're now setting our sights on developing an aging-friendly community strategy and are looking on deepening our impact in this area.
Contact: jotis@ujafed.org & (416) 635-2883
Marlowe, Marian Garber
Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
CARES is the department of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ that focuses on our community’s older adults. It convenes 11 local partners that serve older adults and their families, stays attuned to needs and trends, and augments services. CARES believes that older adults should be considered contributing members of our community, rather than only the recipient of services, and that older adults are individuals – just as people of all ages are -- with a range of interests.
Contact: mmarlowe@jfedgmw.org & (973) 929-3051
Rotman, Reuben
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies is an international membership association composed of 165 non-profit human service agencies in the United States, Canada, and Israel. The Network’s mission is to advance the Jewish human service sector through advocacy, best practices, innovation, and partnerships.
Our members are nonprofit agencies that provide a wide range of human services for the Jewish community and beyond, including health care, career, employment, and mental health services, as well as programs for youth, families and seniors, Holocaust survivors, immigrants, and refugees, persons with disabilities and caregivers. Network member agencies provide comprehensive care for individuals and families at all income levels and of all faiths with a special focus on serving older adults and those struggling with financial insecurity. Older adults and caregivers constitute more than 60% of Network member agencies’ client base.
Reid, Sarah
Jewish Grandparents Network
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Please join us for a fun hands-on workshops with master theater arts educators like Jonathan Shmidt Chapman who present a range of activities that use creativity, drama, and play to activate Passover with children ages 3–8 as well as other holidays during the year.
Grandparents and families enjoyed Jonathan's brand-new and easy-to-follow Passover Discovery Kit, available to download for free this year from the Jewish Grandparents Network website.
Activities in the Passover workshop included ideas to bring the Seder to life — build Ancient Egypt out of matzah; design a scavenger hunt to find the afikoman; and explore the role of women in the Passover story. We will also include ways to use these resources on FaceTime or Zoom for grandparents at a distance.
Sign up even if you can’t make the date and we’ll send you the recording: https://secure.lglforms.com/form.../s/y7alhDpGL-3uQOwi1ssZLQ
And keep an eye out for more great activities and programs! Visit www.jewishgrandparentsnetwork.org or email me at sarah@jewishgrandparentsnetwork.org.
Geber, Sara Zeff
LifeEncore
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
I lead discussion and planning groups on Solo Aging. The groups can be synagogue based, JCC-based, Village-based, or general community-based. I define Solo Agers as anyone, married or single, who has no adult children AND those who are aging alone for other reasons without the support of nearby family. Among baby boomers, the percentage of Solo Agers is more than double what it has been for all previous generations. Planning for support and care in later life is necessary for all of us, but critical for Solo Agers.
Mintz, Sue
Retirementhood
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
As a Certified Retirement Transition Coach, writer, workshop facilitator, and speaker, I offer individuals who are recently retired or plan to retire with 12 months a framework to follow when planning for the non-financial aspects of retirement. I do not offer financial advice. My clients will see retirement for what it truly is by going through a proven process that leads them to establish a variety of ways to remain healthy and active, and feel a sense of purpose and continuous fulfillment in this new phase of life.
Gamoran, Marla
Skilled Volunteers for Israel
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Skilled Volunteers for Israel is a US based nonprofit organization that offers "Volunteer in Israel" from home experiences through our flagship program, English B'Yachad. Prior to launching English B'Yachad, Skilled Volunteers for Israel provided volunteer experiences in Israel for North American Jewish retirees and have been working in the field since 2011. We have served over 500 Jewish retirees with meaningful volunteer experiences.
mgamoran@skillvolunteerisrael.org & (608) 469-0458
Schectman, Amy
2Life Communities
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
2Life’s mission is to ensure that all older adults have an opportunity to live a full life of connection and purpose by providing a dynamic, supportive environment on all our campuses. We focus on affordability and advocate for changing the national conversation to highlight the benefits of aging in community.
We operate 6 campuses with 1600 residents. Our traditional focus has been on subsidized housing; Recently we’ve broadened our focus to older adults in the market gap—between qualifying for subsidized housing and affording high-end offerings in the marketplace. Middle class seniors are the largest cohort nationally, and very much so in the Jewish community.
Opus, our moderate income community, has a foundational idea of a kibbutz. Everyone volunteers at least 10 hours/month to keep the community affordable and vibrant. Our first Opus shares a campus with the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston.
Klein, Michael
Kavod on the Road
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Kavod on the Road provides monthly educational, informational and entertaining programs at area synagogues and organizations to support older adults aging in place.
Ziegler, Christie
Kavod Senior Life
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Kavod Senior Life is a vibrant, award-winning residential community for 400+ older individuals in Denver, Colorado, where active aging is a top priority. On campus, we engage residents with trips, activities, intergenerational programs, lifelong learning, health & wellness and other services that help older adults age well. Off campus, we provide monthly engagement programs in collaboration with neighboring Jewish and secular organizations to serve older individuals living at home. These programs include informational, educational and entertaining content, as well as an annual positive aging conference with a keynote speaker, breakout sessions and lunch. More information can be found at www.KavodSeniorLife.org.
Lechter, Susan
The Wechsler Center for Modern Aging at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
The Wechsler Center for Modern Aging reimagines older adulthood in a Jewish communal setting as a time of expansive possibility, purpose, community engagement, mutual support, and blessing. We envision an engaged and connected cohort of older adults who find deep meaning in community, are treasured by the broader Jewish community for their wisdom, and will develop the tools and attitudes to successfully transition through life as they age. Elements in the Wechsler Center include a focus on research and best practices in the field, a deepening and expansion of volunteer leadership engagement, broadening of the JCC's Caring Initiative aimed at supporting our older adults as they age in place, and a permanent virtual center encompassing programming, fostering social connections, and poised to embark on new innovations.
Rosenfeld, Dina
NYU
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Wise Aging group leaders; NYU- pre-retirement group (TARTS); NYU Chai- Intergenerational group
Graver, Janee
Lab/Shul
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
GENerate is a year-long coming of age experience for adults who wish to learn, grow, and share in community with others in a similar phase of their lives. GENerate provides a nurturing, inclusive space for a select cohort of curious adults to study and celebrate life together. Participants will search and, perhaps, reaffirm their values, actualize life lessons, and define their personal legacies. Through Lab/Shul’s renowned Storahtelling curriculum, participants will become their own storytellers, marking and sharing meaningful moments and transitions.
Mikluch, Alisha
Opening the Dor program at Honeycomb
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Launched in 2020, the Opening the Dor initiative from Honeycomb is an intergenerational giving experience that connects teens and seniors through philanthropy, identity, storytelling and heritage.
Selected organizations receive training, resources and funding from Honeycomb to launch this exciting program.
This program was made possible with the generous support of The Sephardic Foundation On Aging.
Kaufman, Nancy K
NKK Strategic Consulting and NY Jewish Agenda (board chair)
Stage: Looking at options / planning
I am an advocate for "active aging" and a consultant on strategy for organizations wanting to support this effort.
Schneider, Melanie
UJA Federation of New York
Stage: Looking at options / planning
UJA is planning for and supporting a cross divisional initiative for active older adults focused on offering compelling options, experiences and community in the New York suburbs.
Cherow-O’Leary, Dr. Renee
Education for the 21st Century, New York and Los Angeles based
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
I am an educator, writer, and group facilitator in Communications and Culture and have extensive background in Jewish learning and interfaith leadership. I am part of the team that developed LabShul's program for older adults called GENerate. I have also taught at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan at the Wechsler Center on Modern Aging (Interdisciplinary Views of Aging) and led several Wise Aging groups. I am available to work with teams of creators of new programming or conduct research for deeper understanding of the needs of aging cohorts. My Linked In profile is www.linkedin.com/in/renee-cherow-o-leary_67b7726/.
Rothstein, Caron
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Stage: Looking at options / planning
We are exploring issues of active aging, aging in general and volunteer engagement.
Interested in Encore careers to engage semi-retired/retired pros in amplifying the work of our Jewish organizations, bringing models successful in other demographics (e.g. OneTable, Moishe House) to our active adult community and enticing funders and organizations to invest time, effort and resources in this vibrant population