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.
Goldman, Gina
JCC Metrowest
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Jewish Community Center with an Adult Enrichment Program, Memory Center (day Program for those with mild to moderate impairment), fitness Center, Life Long Learning, and Cultural Arts. We also do many overnight trips to domestic an worldwide destinations and we have quite a big following of travelers.
Contact: ggoldman@jccmetrowest.org & (973) 530-3448
Shoss, Deanna
Grandparents Unleashed
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Active-ager Jerry Witkovsky and his creative partner, Deanna Shoss are authors of the book, Where Two Worlds Meet: A Guide to Connecting with Your Teenage Grandchildren, and creators of the Prompt-a-Memory Story Cards. Their work is to drive intergenerational connection through storytelling and approaches to entering each other's world and bringing families together across the generations, with expertise in grandparents and family dynamics, and intercultural/intergenerational communications.
Contact: help@grandparentsunleashed.com & (773) 968-1216
Fruchtman, Jordan
Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, San Diego
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
The Lawrence Family JCC offers a plethora of active aging programs. We have a particular focus on health and holistic wellbeing including physical activities, personal training, mindfulness, and nutrition. We recently launched the Retirement Academy, a 10-week cohort based experience guided by Jewish values in which folks who have recently retired cultivate a sense of purpose while building community.
Contact: jordanf@lfjcc.org & (858) 362-1123
Weller, Kayleh Levy
UJA Federation
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
Lead staff on all UJA Federation NY aging efforts.
Contact: levy-wellerk@ujafedny.org
Bram, Debbie
Congregation Shaare Emeth
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
1600 family Reform congregation. Active Baby Boomer program for the last 7 years. Wise Aging classes for the last 12 years.
Contact: dbram@sestl.org & (314) 692-5308
Glass, Amy
Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
I lead our community planning efforts to meet the needs of older adults in our Southern Arizona community. I was also instrumental in establishing the collaboration between 4 Jewish organizations that support older adults that formed AgeWell Atlanta.
Contact: aglass@jparizona.org & (520) 647-8445
Gerhardt, Ailene
Independent Board Certified Patient Advocate, Certified Senior Advisor, Solo Aging Educator
Beacon Patient Solutions LLC & Navigating Solo Network
Stage: Looking at options / planning
I am a former Jewish Communal professional now independent patient advocate who offers an array of community education programs and groups ranging from navigating the health care system, patient safety and patient's rights, the unique needs of solo aging, planning for solo aging and more. You can view the list here https://www.beaconpatientsolutions.com/speaking. I have partnered with synagogues and Jewish organizations and am interested in ways to connect with organizations to further the reach of my work! As my advocacy practice has evolved, I have developed a specialty working with solo agers (an adult 55+ who, because of choice or circumstance, are without the support of adult children or close family members). In the fall of 2021, I launched the Navigating Solo Network: The Path to Dynamic Solo Aging Starts Here™ (navigatingsolo.com) which includes a national website, a growing network of members, and an online clearinghouse featuring resources specifically for Solo Agers.
Contact: www.beaconpatientsolutions.com & ailene@beaconpatientsolutions.com & (617) 651-2140
Lasker, Jill
Chai Neighbors
Stage: Active Aging activities in place
We are a community for people 65 and older, created by 2 synagogues, Adat Ari El and Temple Beth Hillel. Our mission is to help people live well within a community of friends, while fostering caring and Jewish values. We offer many classes and activities, taught and led mostly by people in our community. Our goal is to keep our minds and bodies active and offer help to those who need it. We are not a place to live, rather, we want to help people stay in place if they want to.
Contact: jilasker70@gmail.com & (818) 445-8817
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.