Multigenerational Programing

As a recipient of the Yad B’yad award presented by ECE-RJ and ARJE at the Yom Chadash conference in Memphis, I want to thank the committee members for recognizing the importance of creating intergenerational programs in Jewish educational settings.

With the guidance and support of a national fellowship conceived by IDEAL18 founders Diana Ganger and Sharon Goldman and funded by the Covenant Foundation, I was afforded the opportunity to learn, dream, and develop an intergenerational program called Grandfriends: Sages of All Ages.

The Grandfriends program brings together Kindergarteners, teens, and elders each Sunday that religious school is in session. The objective is to normalize aging and to give the more senior members of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel’s community an opportunity to nurture – and be nurtured in turn - by creating caring, multi-generational relationships. 

Complemented by bible stories, holiday rituals and lessons of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supported with lessons and activities created by our educators, Grandfriends bring in their hidden talents, their treasured ritual objects and their favorite memories of growing up Jewish.

The children learn empathy and patience as they help our Grandfriends find a comfortable and special seat. The children are careful as they move around the room to protect their Grandfriends from an accidental bump or fall.

One highlight of this year’s program was when 98 year old Matty brought in all the ingredients needed to make challah with the 18 children, 5 Grandfriends, 3 teens, and 3 teachers in the class. Together, they kneaded, cut, rolled, and twisted their dough into something that resembled a braided challah. The collective pride of all involved when they saw the finished challah was enough of a reason to want to continue this inter-generational partnership for years to come.

Carol Paster

TSTI’s Iris Family Center

South Orange, NJ